2-  .X7  .  /t'- 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


Purchased  by  the 


Mrs.  Robert  Lenox  Kennedy  Church  History  Fund. 


BX  7795   .F67  F67  1844 
Fothergill,  Samuel,  1715- 
1772. 

Memoirs  of  the  life  and 
g o s pel  labours  of  Samuel 


t 

IP* 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arcliive 
in  2015 


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1 

1 


MEMOIES 

OP  THE 

LIFE  AND  GOSPEL  LABOURS 

OF 

SAMUEL 'rOTHERGILL, 

WITH  i 

SELECTIONS  FROM  HIS  CORRESPONDENCE. 

ALSO  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  ^ 

THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS  OF  HIS  FATHER, 

JOHN  rOTHERGILL; 

AND 

NOTICES  OF  SOME  OF  HIS  DESCENDANTS.  j 

BY 

GEORGE  CROSFIELD. 

1 


NEW-YORK: 
COLLINS,  BROTHER  &  CO.,  254  PEARL-STREET.  \ 

BAK£R  &  CRANE,  158  PEABL-STEEET.  j 
M  DCCC  XLIV. 


2r  ■  W  -  T  O  R  K  ; 
H.    LUDWia,  PRINTER, 
No.  ;u  &  73,  Teuy  atreet 


PREFACE. 


More  than  seventy  years  have  now  elapsed  since 
the  decease  of  Samuel  Fothergill.  It  has  often, 
during  that  period,  been  wished  that  some  account  of 
his  hfe  and  gospel  labours  should  be  written,  and 
that  his  letters  should  be  published;  that  thus  the 
example,  the  sentiments,  and  the  experience  of  one, 
who,  in  his  youth,  was  so  remarkably  visited  by 
Divine  Grace,  and  in  more  mature  life  was  so  emi- 
nently gifted  for  religious  service,  might  not  be  lost, 
but  serve  for  the  benefit  and  instruction  of  others. 
It  is  this  feeling  which  has  led  to  the  present  publi- 
cation, with  a  desire  that  such  may  be  its  fruits. 

Doctor  Fothergill  contemplated  the  publication  of 
such  a  work,  and  made  some  progress  in  collecting 
materials  for  it,  soon  after  the  decease  of  his  bro- 
ther ;  but,  whether  from  his  numerous  engagements, 
whether  from  the  diminished  energy  which  is  gene- 
rally the  attendant  upon  advancing  years,  or  from 


vi. 


PREFACE. 


whatever  cause  it  might  be,  he  never  carried  his  in- 
tention into  execution. 

By  much  the  larger  portion  of  the  letters  contained 
in  the  present  vv^ork,  have  been  long  in  the  possession 
of  my  wife's  family,  her  mother,  the  daughter  of 
Joseph  Fothergill,  having  carefully  preserved  them, 
from  the  time  of  her  uncle  Samuel's  decease,  and 
transmitted  them  to  her  children  as  a  valuable  record 
of  their  honourable  relative.  A  few  original  docu- 
ments, belong-inor  to  some  other  branches  of  the 
family,  also  several  letters  and  papers,  long  in  the 
possession  of  my  friend  Croudson  Tunstall,  of  Nant- 
wich,  have  been  kindly  supplied  to  me. 

In  the  present  volume,  the  address  and  conclusion 
of  the  letters  are,  except  in  a  few  instances,  left  out, 
and  in  many  of  them  the  introductory  sentence  is 
also  omitted,  which  may  give  them  an  appearance 
of  abruptness.  In  order  to  make  the  account  of  some 
of  the  events  during  the  life  of  John  Fothergill  more 
clear,  the  order  of  time  is  a  little  departed  from  in  the 
narration  of  them,  and  in  the  arrangement  of  a  few 
of  the  earlier  letters. 

It  will  evidently  appear  that  the  letters  were  writ- 
ten in  the  full  freedom  of  affectionate  and  famihar 
intercourse  ;  but  as  those  who  wrote,  and  those  to 


PREFACE. 


Vll. 


whom  they  were  addressed,  have  all  long  since 
passed  away  from  this  life,  most  of  them  without  any 
surviving  descendants,  I  feel  a  liberty  to  insert  names, 
and  to  retain  the  expression  of  sentiments  and  the 
mention  of  circumstances,  which  otherwise  it  would 
have  been  proper  to  withhold. 

GEO.  CROSFIELD. 

Liverpool, 
5th  Month,  20th,  1843, 


MEMOIRS 

OP    THE    LIFE    AND    GOSPEL   LABOURS  OP 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

In  contemplating  tlie  characters  and  services  of  those 
chosen  servants  of  the  Lord,  whom,  in  his  Divine  Providence, 
he  does,  from  time  to  time,  raise  up  in  his  church,  as  monu- 
ments of  his  mercy  and  instruments  in  his  hand,  we  often  feel 
desires  raised,  that  some  record  of  their  labours  should  be 
preserved,  and  that  their  memories  may  be  handed  down  to 
succeeding  generations  ;  that  thus,  though  being  dead,  they 
may  still  speak,  and  that  their  lives  may  tell  of  the  goodness, 
and  proclaim  the  praise  of  Him  by  whom  they  were  so  emi- 
nently qualified — who  had  called  them  out  of  darkness  into 
his  marvellous  light — who  had  sustained  them  through  life, 
and  in  the  end  mercifully  granted  an  entrance  into  his  ever- 
lasting kingdom  :  so  fulfilling  the  declaration,  that  they  that  turn 
many  to  righteousness  shall  shine  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever. 

Amongst  these  may  be  numbered  John  Fothergill,  of 
Wensleydale,  and  his  son  Samuel  Fothergill,  of  War- 
rington, members  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  both  faithful 
and  eminently  qualified  ministers  of  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

In  one  of  those  small  sequestered  dales  which  are  con- 
tiguous to,  and  in  some  measure  form  branches  of,  the  larger 
valley  of  Wensleydale,  in  the  north-west  of  Yorkshire,  stands 
Carr-End,.a  respectable-looking  mansion,  on  the  banks  of  the 
2 


2 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1676 — 1691. 


small  and  quiet  lake  of  Semer-water.  Here  John  Fothergill 
Avas  born,  in  the  first  month  of  1676  ;  and  this  was  for  many- 
years  his  residence,  as  it  had  been  that  of  his  ancestors. 

He  was  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Ann  Fothergill,  of  whom 
he  has  left  this  testimony.  "  My  parents  [were]  not  only  con- 
"  vinced  of  the  blessed  Gospel  dispensation  of  God  to  mankind 
"  in  sending  the  Spirit  of  Christ  to  enlighten  and  reprove  for 
"  sin,  and  to  lead  the  believers  in  it  into  truth  and  righteousness 
"  as  testified  unto  by  the  people  called  Quakers,  but  [they]  al- 
"  so  endeavoured  carefully  to  feel  after,  and  live  up  to,  the  pow- 
"  erful  principle  of  Truth,  whereby  they  were  both  instructed, 
"  and  enabled  to  be  exemplary  in  life,  and  in  a  religious  con- 
"  cern  to  attend  meetings  for  the  worship  of  God,  and  in  a  hum- 
"  ble,  steady,  diligent  waiting  upon  him  for  the  appearance  of 
"  his  enlivening  presence  and  power,  to  enable  them  to  worship 
"  acceptably.  This  also  led  them  into  a  godly  care  to  train  up 
"  their  children  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  to  take  them  to  re- 
"  ligious  meetings,  both  on  first-days  and  other  days  of  the 
"  week,  which  they  seldom  failed  to  attend ;  especially  my 
"  mother,  whose  care  herein,  and  her  spiritual,  reverent  travail 
"  of  soul  in  meetings,  (often  [held]  in  silence)  for  the  sacrifice 
"  of  a  broken  heart  to  be  prepared  in  her  by  the  Lord,  had  very 
"  early  a  deep,  affecting  impression  on  my  consideration." 

From  a  very  early  age,  great  was  his  care  and  inward  fear 
lest  he  should  offend  the  Lord.  "  This,"  he  says,  "  with  some 
"  heavenly  touches  of  the  life  of  truth,  enabled  me  to  live  more 
"  self-denyingly  and  gravely  than  some  others  of  like  years, 
"  which  my  mother  particularly  noted  to  herself,  with  some  com- 
"  fortable  hope  for  the  future." 

The  death  of  his  tender,  careful  mother,  which  took  place 
in  1689,  when  he  was  about  13  years  old,  proved  a  great  loss 
to  him ;  soon  after  this  event  he  became  for  a  time  less 
watchful  and  less  thoughtful  for  his  soul's  everlasting  welfare, 
and  the  heavenly  desire  and  looking  towards  God,  which  had 
previously  been  his  care,  became  stifled  and  neglected.  He 


] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


3 


was  very  young  at  this  time,  but  these  declensions  were 
often  a  burthen  to  him,  and  occasion  of  much  secret  sorrow : 
strong  desires  after  repentance  ensued,  and  by  renewed  con- 
victions and  visitations  he  was  brought  to  see  and  consider  his 
weakness  and  unfaithfulness,  and  to  mourn  over  them  with 
secret  lamentation. 

"  Yet,"  he  says,  "  as  I  was  kept  for  a  time  thus  low  and 
"  watchful  to  this  heavenly  principle  of  Truth,  which  let  me 
"  see  my  sin  and  the  danger  of  it,  I  was  favoured  with 
"  springings  of  hope  for  mercy  and  salvation,  and  then  my 
"  cry  was  frequent  and  strong,  to  be  purged  thoroughly, 
"  whatever  I  had  to  bear,  if  the  Almighty  would  but  enable 
"  me.  Thus  I  wrestled  for  several  years,  and  durst  not 
"  believe  that  I  gained  any  effectual  victory ;  and  as  the 
"  baptism  of  Christ  by  his  Spirit  had  begun  to  operate  in 
"  me,  to  bring  a  death  unto  sin  and  the  lusts  of  the  flesh, 
"  that  through  faith  and  a  diligent  attendance  to  his  power 
"  I  might  live  to  him  in  newness  of  life,  I  had  some  hope 
"  that  the  fan  in  his  hand  would  thoroughly  purge  me,  which 
"  was  the  very  earnest  cry  and  longing  of  my  soul.  But  the 
"  winnowing,  refining  work  of  the  spirit  of  judgment,  and  of 
"  burning,  now  kindled  to  take  away  my  dross,  was  so  heavy 
"  upon  me  that  I  was  often  tempted  to  conclude  that  I  was 
"  forsaken  of  mercy,  and  that  judgment  and  darkness  were 

"  to  be  my  portion  a  resolution  in  a  degree  of 

"  living  faith,  was  firmly  fixed  m  my  heart,  to  endeavour  to 

"  lie  and  to  wait  as  at  the  Almighty's  footstool  and  as 

''  this  desire  after  Divine  favour,  and  mercy,  and  devotedness 
"  of  heart,  to  lean  towards  and  wait  for  his  arising,  was  of 
**  his  own  begetting,  so  he  was  graciously  pleased  to  stay 
"  my  mind  in  humble  resignation,  until  he  brought  forth 
"  judgment  unto  victory  by  degrees,  and  caused  the  Sun  of 
"  righteousness  at  times  to  arise  upon  me  with  healing  in 
"  his  wings  ;  yet  he  often  saw  meet  to  hide  his  face  from  me 
"  again,  and  to  strip  me,  not  only  of  any  sense  of  his  favour, 


4 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1693—1696. 


"  but  even  of  hope  of  obtaining  a  place  among  the  redeemed. 
"  At  this  time,  the  Scripture  which  saith,  '  It  is  good  to  hope 
"  and  quietly  wait,  to  see  the  salvation  of  God  in  the  land  of 
"  the  living,  and  some  other  like  sentences,  were  brought  to 
"  my  remembrance,  accompanied  with  glimpses  of  heavenly 
"  goodness,  which  graciously  helped  to  stay  me  in  some  pa- 

"  tient  hope  under  the  heavenly  refining  hand  the  blessed 

"  presence  of  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  which  at  times  filled 
"  and  overshadowed  my  soul  in  my  thus  following  him,  though 
"  mourning,  is  never  to  be  forgotten  by  me.  This  was  about 
"  the  seventeenth  year  of  my  age." 

When  he  was  about  eighteen  years  old,  his  father  was  pro- 
secuted on  account  of  his  Christian  testimony  against  the  pay- 
ment of  tithes,  and  carried  away  from  his  family  to  prison  at 
York,  about  fifty  miles  distant  from  his  own  dwelling.  John 
being  the  eldest  then  living,  the  care  of  the  (three)  younger 
children,  and  of  the  business  and  servants,  devolved  upon  him  : 
this,  with  his  father's  imprisonment  at  such  a  distance,  and  in 
a  poor  slate  of  health,  brought  him  into  much  anxiety  and  con- 
cern of  mind.  One,  coming  to  see  him,  urged  him  strongly  to 
give  him  liberty  to  agree  with  his  father's  prosecutor,  and  thus 
procure  his  discharge  from  prison,  and  to  have  the  money  re- 
imbursed afterwards  ;  but  he  says,  *'  when  I  considered  a  little, 
"  my  understanding  was  fully  satisfied  that  it  was  the  mind  and 
"  cause  of  God,  that  this  testimony  against  tithes  in  this  dispen- 
"  sation  should  be  borne,  and  that  what  suffering  soever  might 
"  attend  our  faithfulness  to  him,  he  could  readily  make  up,  and 
"  I  then  believed  he  would  ;  and  so,  on  the  other  hand,  that  he 
"  could  soon  blast  and  consume  any  seeming  advantages  that 
"  might  be  hoped  for  by  giving  way  to  selfish  reasoning,  or 
"  shrinking  from  the  faithful  and  reverent  bearing  of  that 
"  testimony." 

After  being  imprisoned  for  conscience'  sake  for  about  six 
months,  his  father  was  released,  but  did  not  long  survive  his 
liberation ;  he  departed  this  life  on  the  6th  of  the  7th  month, 


] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


5 


1695.  "This,"  says  his  son,  "  increased  my  exercise  in 
"  divers  respects,  but  as  I  endeavoured  to  seek  the  favour  and 
"  counsel  of  the  Most  High  God,  he  was  pleased  to  remember 
"  me  with  merciful  help  many  ways."  Yet  many  were  the 
baptisms  and  deep  conflicts  of  soul  through  which  he  had  to 
pass  ;  at  times,  much  sorrow  and  distress  was  his  portion  ; 
at  other  seasons,  he  says,  the  Lord  "  was  pleased  to  dea^ 
"  gently  with  me,  mixing  mercy  with  judgment,  and  filling 
"  my  soul  again  and  again  with  reverent  hope,  as  well  as 
"  humble  supplication  that  he  would  thoroughly  purge  me, 
"  and  spare  nothing  alive  in  me  that  was  offensive  to  him. 
"  Thus  was  my  heart  often  exercised  both  by  night  and  by 
"  day,  often,  likewise,  when  about  my  business  ;  and  some- 
*'  times  the  brightness  of  the  salvation  of  God,  and  the  enlarg- 
"  ings  of  his  love,  were  so  abundant  in  my  soul,  that  I  could 
"  scarcely  (nor  did  I  always)  keep  from  falling  down  upon  the 
"  ground  to  adore  and  worship  his  glorious  presence.  And  at 
"  some  times,  I  apprehended  it  might  be  required  of  me  to 
"  open  my  mouth  for  the  Lord  in  the  congregation,  which  was 
"  exceedingly  humbling  to  me." 

Abiding  thus,  "  with  some  patient  hope  under  the  heavenly 
refining  hand,"  John  Fothergill  became  fitted  and  prepared  for 
service  in  the  Lord's  cause,  and  in  the  twenty-first  year  of  his 
age  he  came  forth  as  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  continued 
a  diligent  and  faithful  labourer  therein  to  the  end  of  a  long  life. 

He  did  not  enter  upon  this  important  work  until  very  close 
and  strict  examination  had  convinced  him,  that  the  call  to  this 
service  was  from  the  only  true  and  right  source,  and  great  was 
his  fear  lest  he  should  be  too  forward,  or  proceed  without  right 
authority. 

On  this  important  subject  he  has  left  the  following  instnictive 
remarks : — 

"  I  am  not  without  fear  that  such  a  due  waiting  for,  and 
"  distinct  certainty  of,  the  immediate  call  or  requirings  of 
"  the  word  of  life,  have  not  always  been  suitably  practised ; 


6 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1698. 


"  and  for  want  hereof,  some  have  appeared  as  ministers 
"  before  [being]  ripe,  and  have  brought  forth  fruit  of  very 
"  little  service,  if  not  detrimental ;  because  none  can  give 
"  what  they  themselves  have  not :  whereas,  if  these  had 
"  waited  with  proper  diligence  for  the  living  word  to  open 
"  and  engage  in  the  entire  subjection  of  self,  they  might 
"  have  been  great  and  good  instruments,  as  clouds  filled  by  the 
"  Lord  with  heavenly  rain.  And  as  the  divine  and  certain 
"  requiring  of  truth  is  the  only  right  entrance  into  the  ministry, 
"  because  the  Lord  said,  '  Some  run,  and  I  sent  them  not, 
"  therefore  they  shall  not  profit  the  people ;'  so  it  is  only  his 
"  fresh  and  renewed  requiring,  not  only  opening  the  matter  to 
"  speak,  but  engaging  to  speak  at  this  time,  whereby  the 
"  church,  or  individuals,  are  edified,  as  our  Father  would  have 
"  his  children  edified." 

Having  thus  given  up  in  obedience  to  the  Divine  command, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  exercise  of  his  gift,  visiting  sometimes 
one  neighbouring  meeting  and  sometimes  another ;  yet  still 
was  he  closely  tried,  and  many  hidden  sorrows  were  his  portion 
under  the  weight  of  the  refining  season,  through  which  he  had 
to  pass,  but  a  degree  of  living  hope  was  often  revived  in  his 
mind,  "  that  in  time  he  might,  through  humble  attention  and 
"  godly  care,  be  set  more  at  liberty  in  the  freedom  of  a  son." 
Great  was  his  care  and  anxiety  diligently  to  wait  for  the  dis- 
tinct openings  of  the  light  of  life,  and  that  all  his  proceedings 
might  be  in  obedience  to  it. 

In  the  twenty-second  year  of  his  age  he  felt  a  concern  of 
mind  to  pay  a  religious  visit  to  friends  in  Scotland,  which  he 
accomplished  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  friends,  and  returned 
with  peace.  About  this  time  he  believed  it  right  to  dispose 
of  his  business  and  to  let  his  land,  that  he  might  be  more 
at  liberty ;  yet,  whilst  careful  not  to  be  so  involved  in  tem- 
poral concerns  "  as  to  hinder  him  from  true  inward  retiring 
"  often  to  feel  the  life  of  truth,  for  the  daily  support  of 
"  his  soul ;"  yet  he  also  thought  it  right  not  to  be  without 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


7 


suitable  outward  employment,  as  therein  "  there  appeared," 
he  says,  "both  then  and  since,  a  danger  of  being  tempted  to 
"  be  easily  drawn  abroad,  before  or  without  that  distinct 
"  requiring  of  truth  both  to  go  and  return,  in  which  only  the 
"  ministers  of  Christ  move  in  true  safety,  and  to  right  edifi- 
cation,  and  be  in  danger  of  missing,  or  losing,  the  know- 
"  ledge  of  the  pure  requirings  of  the  everlasting  High  Priest ; 
"  and  so  make  way  for  formality,  a  barren  ministry,  and 
"  unprofitable  labour."  So  careful  was  he  to  endeavour  to 
avoid  errors  on  either  hand,  and  to  be  found  obedient  in 
all  things. 

A  few  months  after  his  journey  into  Scotland,  he  visited 
several  parts  of  Yorkshire,  and  the  county  of  Durham.  Of 
this  visit  he  thus  writes : — "  Though  this  labour  was  like  a 
"  fire  to  the  house  of  Esau,  and,  therefore,  unpleasant  to 
"  some  ;  yet  the  inward  and  living  among  the  people  were 
"  relieved  and  made  glad  in  the  Lord,  whose  favour  and 
"  peace  often  filled  my  heart  with  awful  reverence  towards 
"  him,  with  strong  desires  purely  to  know,  and  to  be  helped 
"  to  do  his  will  faithfully." 

About  this  time,  several  in  the  northern  parts,  whither  he 
had  been  led  in  gospel  labour,  were  convinced  and  gathered 
into  a  knowledge  of  the  truth,  of  whom  some  became  valuable 
ministers. 

His  next  service  from  home  was  an  extensive  visit  to 
Friends  in  the  western  counties,  and  the  city  of  London, 
where  he  remained  several  weeks.  From  thence  he  went  into 
Cornwall,  and  on  his  return  attended  the  yearly  meeting  at 
Bristol ;  he  also  visited  all  the  meetings  in  Wales,  and  returned 
home  through  Cheshire  and  Lancashire. 

In  the  year  1701,  he  visited  Scotland  a  second  time, 
passing  through  Cumberland  to  Edinburgli,  and  so  to  the 
north  of  Scotland ;  visiting  the  meetings  everywhere  in 
those  parts,  and  returned  to  Glasgow.  In  many  places  he 
was  truly  comforted  with  Friends  : — "  They  were  encouraged 


8 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1701. 


"  and  glad  in  a  loving  sense  of  the  continued  fatherly  regard 
"  and  extendings  of  the  love  of  God  toward  them  in  that 
"  nation,  amongst  a  hard,  self-conceited,  and,  in  some  places, 
"  an  envious  people."  In  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow  a  rude 
spirit  prevailed,  causing  them  to  disturb  Friends  in  almost  all 
their  meetings,  sometimes  throwing  stones,  &c. ;  some  with 
all  the  noise  they  could,  "  endeavoured  to  drown  the  voice  of 
"  any  who  were  concerned  to  minister  publicly.  Yet,  at 
"  times,  the  power  and  authority  of  Truth  arose  over  those 
"  wicked  endeavours,  and  the  evil  spirit  was  overborne 
"  and  weighed  down,  and  some  of  the  worst  would  go  away, 
"  and  others  lend  some  attention  to  the  testimony  of  truth ; 
*'  and  Friends  were  the  more  edified,  and  their  faith  and 
"  hope  in  God  strengthened.  At  Glasgow,  when  I  was 
"  there  on  a  first-day  of  the  week,  the  people  had  very  much 
**  disturbed  us  in  meeting,  in  their  usual  manner,  and  followed 
"  Friends  along  a  large  open  street,  some  shouting  and  scorn- 
"  ing,  others  throwing  stones  and  dirt.  The  people  who 
"  were  gathered  in  great  numbers  about  their  doors,  and  saw 
"  what  passed,  seemed  rather  to  be  pleased  with  the  abusive 
"  behaviour  of  the  mob  towards  us,  than  to  offer  any  dis- 
"  couragement  to  them  :  whereupon,  a  soldier,  an  Englishman, 
"  began  to  cry  aloud  three  times,  as  if  he  had  some  public 
"  proclamation  to  make ;  and  when  he  had  thus  gained  atten- 
"  tion,  he  called  aloud  again  : — '  Behold  the  godly  town  of 
"  Glasgow,  how  they  entertain  strangers  !'  and  repeated  it 
"three  several  times.  This  reproof  made  the  people  so 
"  ashamed,  that  they  mostly  took  to  their  houses,  and  got  out 
"  of  sight ;  and  the  more  grown  up  people  retiring,  the  rest 
"  soon  left  us,  and  went  off  likewise.  I  heard,  when  I  was  at 
"  this  place  some  years  after,  that  the  people  had  never  offered 
"  the  like  disturbance  again  to  Friends,  either  in  their  meetings 
"  or  in  the  streets." 

From  Glasgow  he  went  into  Ireland,  and  paid  a  very  general 
visit  to  Friends  there.    At  Dublin,  he  says, — "  I  met  with  our 


■] 


OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


9 


"  ancient  and  honourable  friend  William  Edmundson,  whom  I 
"  had  a  great  desire  to  see,  having  a  deep  and  reverent  value 
"  for  him."  He  thus  concludes  the  account  of  this  journey  : — ■ 
"  With  the  love  of  my  friends,  and  an  humble  and  thankful 
"  heart  before  the  Lord  of  all  true  help,  I  took  leave  of  Friends 
"  at  Cork,  and  went  over  to  Minehead,  in  Somersetshire,  having 
"  something  remaining  towards  a  few  places  there-away,  and 
"  about  Bristol ;  and  from  hence  came  pretty  directly  home 
"  again,  with  reverent  awe  towards  the  ever  blessed  helper." 

In  the  following  year  he  was  engaged  on  religious  service  in 
the  eastern  and  midland  counties,  also  in  the  city  of  London. 

A  concern  had  for  a  long  time  attended  his  mind  to  pay  a  reli- 
gious visit  to  Friends  in  the  several  provinces  of  North  America ; 
and,  with  the  unity  and  approbation  of  his  friends,  he  and  his 
companion,  William  Armistead,  (who  was  under  a  similar  con- 
cern,) embarked  at  London,  in  the  second  month,  1706,  and  at 
the  end  of  ten  weeks  arrived  safely  in  Maryland. 

After  travelling  diligently  through  those  parts  of  America 
where  Friends  were  then  settled,  they  proceeded  to  the  West 
Indies,  and  had  religious  service  in  Barbadoes,  Antigua,  and 
Jamaica :  in  the  latter  island  there  were  at  that  time  four  meetings 
of  Friends  mostly  kept  up.  Amongst  the  Friends  of  these  meet- 
ings, and  the  inhabitants  generally,  they  were  engaged  for  about 
three  months,  and  then  embarked  for  England,  where  they  were 
favoured  to  land  in  safety,  in  the  first  month,  1708. 

Previously  to  this  visit  to  America,  he  had  become  acquainted 
with  Margaret  Hough,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Ellen 
Hough,  of  Sutton,  in  Cheshire;  of  a  family  in  good  esteem,  and 
Friends  rightly  concerned  for  the  support  and  maintenance  of 
the  principles  of  truth.  She  was  herself  at  times  engaged  in 
the  ministry,  and  was  greatly  beloved  and  esteemed  for  her 
piety  and  worth.  The  following  letter,  addressed  to  her  during 
his  absence,  presents  a  beautiful  expression  of  affection  pro- 
ceeding from  the  surest  source,  and  based  upon  the  safest 

foundation — a  true  love  and  imity  in  the  fear  of  God. 
3 


10 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1709. 


JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARGARET  HOUGH. 

3d  of  12lh  Mo.,  1706. 

My  Near  Friend, 

Having  thee  often  fresh  in  my  remembrance,  in  a 
near  and  tender  manner,  for  the  truth's  sake,  which  brought 
our  spirits  into  a  degree  of  nearness  many  years  since,  which 
never  yet,  I  beUeve,  has  aUogether  worn  away,  I  have  in 
my  mind  to  give  thee  a  few  lines  with  the  salutation  of 
inward  love,  which  sometimes  has  comfortably  spread  over 
my  heart  when  thinking  of  thee  since  I  left  my  native  shore ; 
which  increased  well-wishing  for  thee,  and  the  aboundings  of 
immortal  virtue  m  thy  tender,  often-bowed  heart,  which  I  often 
think  has  more  secret  distress  and  besetment  to  grapple  with 
than  many  are  aware  of,  yet  this  I  am  satisfied  of,  that  love  and 
care  from  above  is  extended  towards  thee  ;  lean  steadfastly  upon 
that  arm  which  has  been  with  thee,  and  has  fed  thee,  and  led  thee 
afresh  to  springs  of  water,  sometimes  when  they  have  been  al- 
most hid.  Dear  Margaret,  methinks  I  feel  it  has  been  some- 
thing after  this  manner  with  thee,  yet  the  Lord's  tender  regard 
has  been,  and  is  towards  thee  :  my  spirit  is  sweetened  in  its 
Teachings  forth  to  thee  at  this  time,  as  at  many  others  these  ma- 
ny years,  at  times  and  seasons  when  we  have  been  far  absent 
in  body.  I  desire  a  place  in  thy  remembrance  when  it  is  well 
with  thee.  I  am  in  an  exercising  country,  yet  have  no  cause  to 
repine,  because  that  engaging  life  which  brought  me  hither,  fails 
not,  but  often  makes  the  weak  strong ;  and  I  have  yet  some  hopes 
to  see  my  native  land  and  near  friends  again,  though  I  feared  not 
so  soon  as  I  hoped  for,  but  must  leave  it  to  the  great  and  worthy 
Disposer.  And,  dear  friend,  my  heart  saith  to  thee,  lean  care- 
fully upon  the  truth,  the  virtue  of  it,  and  it  will  keep  thy  mind 
and  spirit  in  dominion  over  the  clogging,  loading  things  of  this 
world,  and  be  as  a  stay  to  thee  in  times  of  trial  which  thou  meets 
with  in  divers  respects.  I  have  written  larger  than  I  did  intend, 
because  my  heart  is  open  towards  thee  in  true  love,  which  in  a 


^TAT.  3.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


11 


solid  manner  runs  forth  to  thee  in  sympathy  withlhee  in  various 
straits,  and  in  the  continuance  of  it  doth  tenderly  embrace  thee, 
and  remain  thy  near  friend  and  fellow-traveller  in  many  beset- 
ments,  John  Fothergill. 

On  the  fifth  of  the  third  month,  1709,  John  Fothergill  and 
M  ARGARET  HouGH  wcrc  United  in  marriage.  They  settled  at 
his  own  house  at  Carr-End. 

In  the  same  year,  accompanied  by  Gilbert  Thompson,*  the 
uncle  of  his  wife,  he  was  engaged  in  an  extensive  religious 
visit  to  the  western  and  southern  parts  of  England,  returning 
by  way  of  London.  With  this  exception,  he  remained  at  and 
about  home  for  several  years,  diligently  engaged  in  the  care  of 
his  concerns,  and  of  his  increasing  family ;  frequently  visiting 
the  meetings  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  his  residence, 
as  well  as  some  more  distant. 

In  the  year  1719,  a  very  close  and  affecting  dispensation  was 
permitted  to  befall  him.  After  a  happy  union  of  ten  years, 
during  which  he  had  indeed  found  in  his  wife  a  true  help-meet, 
a  tender  sympatliizing  partaker  in  his  exercises  and  labours, 
and  a  careful,  watchful  mother  of  his  children,  she  was  taken 
from  him  by  death,  soon  after  the  birth  of  their  eighth  child. 

Of  the  particulars  of  this  affecting  event,  and  of  her  character 
and  worth,  an  account  was  drawn  up  by  her  husband,  of  which 
the  following  is  an  abridgment. 

*  Gilbert  Thompson  resided  at  Penketh,  near  Warrington,  where  he 
conducted  a  boarding  school,  which,  under  his  care,  and  afterwards  that 
of  his  son  Gilbert,  maintained,  for  a  long  period,  a  high,  and  justly  deserved 
reputation.  He  was  a  man  of  great  use  and  service  in  the  church,  and  in 
his  station  as  a  schoolmaster  was  eminently  qualified  for  the  instruction  of 
youth,  being  endued  with  wisdom  and  skill  to  govern  them  by  mild  and 
gentle  means.  He  was  prosecuted  for  keeping  a  school,  and  suffered  on 
this  account  an  imprisonment  in  Lancaster  castle.  His  labours  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  were  useful  and  edifying,  being  pure  and  unmixed 
with  the  enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom.  He  travelled  in  this  work 
through  most  parts  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland-  He  died  on  the  22d  of 
4th  Mo.,  1719,  aged  61  years. 


13 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1719. 


Margaret  Fothergill  was  of  an  exemplary  piety  and  pru- 
dence, even  from  her  lender  years  ;  and  whilst  very  young,  she 
not  only  delighted  to  attend  Friends'  meetings,  but  came  under 
a  concern  of  heart  that  she  might  become  acquainted  with  the 
Lord  for  herself,  and  witness  his  quickening  power  and  virtue 
in  her  own  soul  ;  which  concern  he  was  graciously  pleased  to 
regard,  and  visited  her  heart  with  his  power  and  love ;  and  as 
she  grew  up,  through  the  pure  influence  thereof,  she  came  to 
be  remarkably  clothed  with  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  and  was  of 
a  grave,  modest,  and  exemplary  behaviour,  and  was  at  times 
concerned  to  exhort  Friends  to  a  close  walking  with,  and  true 
dependance  upon  God,  and  to  beware  of  an  unconcerned  mind. 

After  her  marriage  she  continued  in  the  same  watchful  state, 
a  true  lover  of  meetings,  and  a  humble  waiter  for  the  arising  of 
the  life  and  truth  in  them,  wherein  alone  is  ability  for  the  per- 
formance of  acceptable  worship.  Being  often  very  weakly,  and 
having  several  young  children,  she  was  often  unfit  to  attend 
meetings,  but  would  frequently  express  her  care  that  the  affairs 
of  truth  might  be  conducted  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  was  not 
without  hopes  of  living  to  have  more  ability,  and  to  be  more  at 
liberty  for  these  services,  and  to  discharge  herself  more  fully  for 
righteousness'  sake.  But  a  few  days  after  the  birth  of  her  eighth 
child,  she  expressed  her  apprehension  that  she  should  not  re- 
cover, speaking  with  much  resignation  and  cheerfulness,  saying, 
"  I  wonder  that  I  cannot  be  troubled  at  being  likely  to  leave  my 
"  little  ones,  and  my  dear  husband."  These  expressions  much 
affected  her  husband,  and  she  added,  speaking  to  him — "They 
"  will  be  cared  for,  thou  wilt  be  helped,  and  there  is  a  place 
"  prepared  for  me.  They  will  not  be  left  under  the  care  of  a 
"  father,  who,  like  too  many  in  these  days,  will  neglect  their 
"  truest  interest,  but  with  one,  who,  knowing  whence  good 
"  comes,  will  seek,  I  trust,  with  proper  care,  to  the  Gracious 
*'  all-sufficient  Helper,  both  for  himself  and  for  his  children." 

She  gave  many  exhortations  to  those  who  came  to  see  her,  to 
prize  their  time,  and  to  make  a  right  use  of  the  visitation  of  God 


^TAT.  3.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


to  ihem  ;  often  reviving  what  had  been  a  prevalent  concern  in 
her  mind,  that  none  should  content  themselves  with  a  bare 
going  to  meetings,  or  sit  down  in  them,  in  a  careless,  uncon- 
cerned frame  of  mind,  but  sit  as  at  the  Lord's  footstool,  and  wait 
to  hear  his  gracious  words  ;  and  said,  she  well  remembered  she 
had  to  advise  Friends  against  an  unconcerned  mind,  and  indif- 
fercncy,  the  last  time  she  had  any  thing  to  say  in  meetings  be- 
fore she  left  her  own  country.  And,  with  great  weight,  further 
said,  "It  is  great  or  absolute  mockery,  to  go  and  sit  down  before 
"  the  Lord  in  meetings  in  a  careless  manner." 

After  this,  though  her  weakness  much  prevailed,  yet  her 
strength  was  renewed  in  the  power  of  truth,  wherein  she  prayed 
in  a  very  humble,  fervent  manner  for  the  church  in  general, 
and  for  her  children,  saying, — "  Let  me  be  bowed  down  before 
"  the  Lord,  that  the  fruit  of  my  body  may  be  enriched  with  the 
"  same  favour,  love,  and  goodness  ;"  and  so  continued  praising 
and  glorifying  God,  in  the  aboundings  of  his  love  and  mercy, 
much  to  the  tendering  of  the  hearts  of  those  about  her.  Though 
she  had  a  hard  struggle  with  death,  yet  its  sting  was  taken 
away  :  she  patiently  continued  in  humble  acknowledgments  to 
the  Lord  for  his  goodness  and  mercy,  and  in  praises  to  him, 
who  was,  she  said,  worthy — worthy  of  praises  for  evermore,  as 
long  as  her  words  were  intelligible  ;  and  so  departed  in  peace, 
on  the  16th  day  of  the  second  month,  1719,  in  the  forty-second 
year  of  her  age. 

Thus  was  her  husband  deprived  of  a  faithful  and  affectionate 
companion,  and  her  seven  surviving  children  (of  whom  the 
eldest  was  not  ten  years  old)  of  a  tender  and  religious  parent  ; 
but  her  strong  desires  and  the  secret  exercises  of  her  soul  for 
their  preservation  and  spiritual  good,  her  tears  and  her  prayers 
for  these,  her  "  little  ones,"  were  not  forgotten  before  God  ; — ■ 
they  were  seen  and  remembered  by  their  Father  in  heaven  ; — ■ 
His  care  and  protection  were  extended  to  them,  and  in  after 
years,  his  love  and  power  mercifully  visited  their  hearts  ;  in  an 
especial  manner  was  this  gracious  visitation  extended  to  her  son 
Samuel,  who  became  an  eminent  and  favoured  servant  of  his  Lord. 


CHAPTER  II. 


The  loss  of  his  beloved  wife  was  to  John  Fothergill  a  great 
bereavement  and  very  close  trial,  but  he  submitted  with  holy 
resignation  to  the  Divine  will,  saying,  in  answer  to  a  sympa- 
thizing friend,  "  The  Lord  gives,  and  he  takes  away :  his 
"  will  be  done  ;  he  is  worthy.  But  what  if  I  also  must  be 
"  called  from  my  little  ones  ?"  Thus  alluding  to  a  belief  which 
lie  then  felt,  that  it  would  be  required  of  him,  before  long,  again 
to  visit  North  America  and  the  West  Indies.  The  prospect  of 
this  religious  service  was  a  great  trial  to  him,  as  it  is  recorded 
that  few,  or  perhaps  none,  ever  exceeded  him  in  tender,  pater- 
nal care  and  affection  for  his  children.  Yet,  when  he  became 
fully  assured  that  the  Lord  required  this  sacrifice,  he  gave  up 
freely,  saying  to  his  children,  that  though  he  had  all  the  anxious 
concern  of  a  father  for  them,  yet  he  must  obey  the  holy  call  of 
the  Lord,  who  he  believed  would  care  for  them  in  his  absence.* 

In  entering  upon  such  an  engagement,  and  under  his  cir- 
cumstances, the  important  duty  of  committing  his  children, 
during  his  absence,  to  the  care  of  relations  and  suitable  persons, 
obtained  his  close  attention. 

He  left  home  in  the  spring  of  1721,  with  the  full  unity  and 
approbation  of  his  friends,  and  having  the  company  of  Lawrence 
King  ;  they  embarked  at  London,  and  arrived  safely  in  York 
river,  Virginia,  in  the  fifth  month  of  that  year. 

After  an  extensive  visit  in  America,  they  proceeded  to  Barba- 
does,  and  whilst  there,  John  Fothergill  wrote  an  Epistle  to 
Friends  of  Dover  Meeting,  New  England ;  and  another  to  the 
professors  of  truth  in  Antigua,  Anguilla,  Jamaica,  or  there- 
away. 

*  See  an  aflfectino:  account  of  this  and  similar  acts  of  tenderness  and  care, 
related  by  Samuel  Fothergill,  during  his  visit  to  Ireland,  in  1762. 


^TAT.  8.] 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS,  &C. 


15 


From  Barbadoes  they  sailed  for  England,  where  ihey  were 
favoured  to  arrive  safely,  in  the  fourth  month,  1724,  having 
been  absent  three  years.  Upon  landing,  they  proceeded  to 
London,  and  to  the  yearly  meeting,  then  just  commenced,  an 
account  was  given  by  John  Fothergill  of  their  travels,  and  of  the 
state  of  Friends  in  America,  of  which  the  following  is  an 
abridgment. 

"  We  first  acknowledge,  in  humble  reverence  to  the  Lord 
Almighty,  that  he  mercifully  favoured  us  wiih  his  love  and  coun- 
tenance very  often  upon  the  sea,  and  guarded  us  thereon  from 
wicked  men,  into  whose  hands  some  fell  who  were  very  near  us. 

"  After  a  moderate  passage  we  arrived  safely  in  Virginia,  and 
entered  upon  our  service,  and,  going  towards  North  Carolina, 
had  many  large  and  open  meetings,  both  among  Friends  and 
others.  In  both  these  provinces  we  found  great  willingness  in 
the  people  to  hear  the  truth  declared,  many  of  whom  appeared 
tenderly  affected.  There  seemed  to  be  a  comfortable  opening 
among  the  youth,  and  some  growth  in  the  elder  as  to  religious 
care :  Divine  mercy  still  reaches  freely  towards  them,  and  in 
some  places  there  is  an  increase  in  righteousness,  and  truth  is  in 
good  esteem ;  but  in  others,  the  love  and  friendship  of  the 
world  occasions  a  decay. 

"  In  Maryland  we  found  great  loss,  by  the  decease  of  many 
of  the  elders,  and  of  the  more  zealous  and  concerned  Friends  ; 
yet  there  are  in  several  parts  some  who  are  hopeful  and  reli- 
giously disposed  ;  yet  a  love  of  ease  and  vain  liberties  has  pre- 
vailed, and  hindered  the  work  and  honour  of  truth.  There  is 
some  openness  among  several  of  the  neighbouring  people,  and 
a  gracious  extension  of  Divine  love  to  them,  as  well  as  of  a  help- 
ful hand  in  heavenly  wisdom  towards  friends. 

"  In  Pennsylvania,  we  found  an  openness  in  many  places, 
among  people  of  several  professions  ;  some  were  convinced  of, 
and  received  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  There  is  a  large  body 
of  religiously-minded  people  among  Friends,  who  arc  growing 
up  in  a  true  care  for  the  honour  of  truth  ;  yet  these  are  mixed 


16  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1724. 

with  many  earthly-minded,  and  some  loose,  libertine  people, 
who  occasion  much  exercise  to  the  right-minded :  yet  the  Lord's 
goodness  and  care  is  near  and  over  that  country,  and  his  truth 
prospers  in  it. 

"  In  the  Jerseys,  Long  Island,  and  New  York  States,  there 
are  a  considerable  number  of  Friends,  and  in  some  places  a 
hopeful  openness  among  other  people.  Though  vain  liberties 
in  some,  and  too  much  carelessness  and  indulgence  in  others, 
have  stained  or  obstructed  the  progress  and  dominion  of  the 
work  and  beauty  of  truth  ;  yet  the  visitation  of  heavenly  love  is 
freely  extended,  in  order  to  repair  and  build  up  in  righteousness. 
There  are  some  honestly  concerned  Friends  there-away,  among 
whom  we  had  a  satisfactory  labour  in  the  fresh  visitation  of  Di- 
vine power  and  love. 

"  In  Rhode  Island,  New  England,  &c.,  we  had  many  meet- 
ings, and  close  labour,  but  on  the  whole  much  to  our  satisfac- 
tion. There  is  a  considerable  body  of  Friends,  and  we  believe 
they  are  increasing  in  the  knowledge  of  the  power  of  truth,  and 
in  stability  in  righteousness  and  faithfulness  to  it,  in  those  parts. 
We  had  many  meetings  amongst  the  neighbouring  professing 
people,  especially  in  the  eastern  parts,  and  several,  we  hope, 
were  effectually  reached  by  the  power  of  truth,  and  received 
and  joined  in  with  it  in  humility  and  gladness  of  heart. 

"We  laboured  diligently,  through  the  ability  received,  in 
most  parts  of  this  country,  and  took  leave  of  Friends  in  solid  hope, 
on  account  of  the  Lord's  work,  and  much  love  and  heavenly 
peace  in  ourselves,  with  holy  thankfulness  to  the  Lord,  the  great 
helper  of  all  his  faithful  servants. 

"  Returning  thence  to  Pennsylvania,  &c.  we  had  some  com- 
fortable service  there-away,  and  Friends  were  encouraged  and 
strengthened  in  the  Lord.  We  sailed  thence  to  South  Caro- 
lina, and  had  meetings  with  the  few  Friends  there,  and  among 
others.  The  Lord  our  God  was  with  us  to  our  comfort  and 
help,  though  the  generality  of  the  people  seemed  but  cold  and 
indifferent  about  true  religion.    There  are  but  few  friends  in 


uETAT.  9.] 


OF  SAMDEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


17 


these  parts,  and  but  very  few  who  seem  to  love  the  truth  in 
uprightness ;  yet  some  there  are  who  do  thus  love  it  and  re- 
main in  the  simplicity  :  these  Were  very  glad  of  our  visit,  and 
we  were  comforted  together  in  the  Lord. 

We  sailed  next  to  Barbadoes,  where  Friends  received  us 
with  gladness,  it  being  long  since  any  Friends  from  England 
had  visited  them.  We  had  many  meetings,  both  among  Friends 
and  others  in  the  island,  which  were  to  the  comfort  of  the  living 
amongst  them  ;  many  other  people  seemed  glad  of  the  visit, 
and  behaved  soberly  and  respectfully ;  but  a  loose,  lofl}^,  and 
irreligious  spirit  has  too  generally  prevailed,  and,  to  a  sorrowful 
degree,  has  obstructed  the  spreading  of  truth,  and  has  brought 
on  a  decay  and  diminution  of  numbers  amongst  Friends  ;  yet 
there  are  a  few,  in  different  parts  of  the  island,  who  retain  their 
integrity  to  God,  and  love  and  are  concerned  for  his  honour. 

"  The  Lord  was  pleased  to  own  us  with  his  help,  and  wisdom 
to  divide  the  word  aright,  in  warning  the  unfaithful,  and  in 
encouraging  and  comforting  the  lovers  of  truth  ;  and  we  were 
made  sensible  that  the  day  of  love  and  mercy  from  God  was 
yet  freely  extended  to  many  in  that  unworthy  place. 

"  And  now,  feeling  clear  and  easy,  we  took,  our  leave  of 
Friends  in  love  and  peace,  and  were  favoured  with  a  good  and 
passage  to  England. 

"  To  the  Lord,  the  support,  the  defence,  and  the  rich  rewarder 
of  his  people  and  servants,  in  awfulness  of  soul  be  ascribed  all 
glory  and  pre-eminence,  with  fear  and  praise  for  ever." 

Soon  after  the  return  of  John  Fothergill  from  America,  and 
in  the  same  year,  (1724,)  he  was  engaged  in  a  religious  visit  in 
Ireland,  including  several  parts  of  the  nation  where  no  Friends 
resided.  In  a  letter  to  a  friend  he  says — "  I  have  travelled 
"  very  closely  during  a  month,  with  great  toil  ;  but  satisfied  as 
"  much  as  I  could  wish,  that  I  was  in  the  Lord's  counsel  and 

work,  I  and  three  other  Friends  were  seven  days  and  nights, 
"  and  had  meetings  among  other  people,  without  coming  to  a 
4 


18 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1725. 


"  Friend's  house  ;  we  travelled  hard,  having  in  that  time  rode 
"  near  three  hundred  miles  in  almost  constant  rain,  which  hurt 
"  my  health  :  however,  the  glorious  name  of  the  Lord  was  with 
"  us  and  was  magnified." 

During  his  absence  in  Ireland,  his  son  William  departed  this 
life,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  A  peculiar  sweetness  of 
temper,  often  tendered  and  encouraged  by  a  s>ense  of  Divine 
regard  and  heavenly  support,  enabled  him  to  bear  his  painful 
illness  with  exemplary  patience  and  resignation.  Many  affecting 
expressions  he  uttered  during  his  illness,  and  various  and 
frequent  were  the  instances  of  his  care  and  fear,  whilst  in  health, 
not  to  offend  the  Almighty,  the  sweet  influence  of  whose  awful 
presence  seemed  often  to  be  near  him. 

The  death  of  this  promising  youth,  in  whom  indications  of 
so  much  seriousness  and  solid  piety  had  thus  early  appeared, 
was  a  great  affliction  to  his  father,  who  wslS,  however,  enabled 
to  say,  that — "  being  satisfied  he  was  from  him,  in  the  counsel 
"  and  service  of  the  Lord,  he  must  submit  all  to  the  Divine  dis- 
posal." 

At  the  conclusion  of  a  visit,  which  about  the  end  of  this  year 
he  paid  to  some  of  the  southern  and  western  counties  of  Eng- 
land, he  says — "  I  returned  home  with  peace  and  true  satisfac- 
"  tion,  through  the  Lord's  favour,  whose  holy  and  great  name 
"had  and  hath  the  praise,  who  is  worthy  to  be  feared,  served; 
"  and  magnified  for  ever." 

FROM  JOSEPH  PIKE  TO  JOHN  FOTHERGILL. 

Cork,  8th  Month,  30,  1725. 

In  that  love  which  reaches  over  sea  and  land,  do  I 
at  this  time  salute  thee,  even  in  that  love  which  nehher  time 
nor  distance  can  ever  separate  or  wear  out.  so  long  as  we  con- 
tinue to  be,  and  keep,  in  the  cementing  power  and  life  of  this 
heavenly  love.    Here  it  is  that  we  can  truly  sympathize  toge- 


uETAT.  9.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


19 


tlier  (willi  all  the  Lord's  children)  in  joy  or  affliction,  especially 
in  thosa  things  that  relate  to  the  prosperity  of  Zion,  or  the  con- 
trary ;  in  rejoicing  when  it  flourishes,  and  mourning  when  we 
see  anything  that  mars  or  stains  the  beauty  of  it ;  as  I  can  truly 
say  I  do  with  thee,  and  all  those  that  are  heartily  and  zealously 
concerned  in  soul — that  spiritual  Jerusalem  may  become  the 
praise  of  the  whole  earth,  and  that  her  beauty  may  shine  to  the 
nations. 

But  that  which  hath  greatly  obstructed  this,  at  this  day,  hath 
very  much  proceeded  from  the  lukewarmness,  easiness,  or  cold- 
ness of  too  many  of  her  watchmen,  that  should  at  first  have 
stood  in  the  gap,  and  endeavoured  to  make  up  the  breaches  that 
the  enemy  was  making  in  the  walls  of  Zion.  And  in  a  parti- 
cular manner  b}'  their  not  standing  their  ground,  and  joining 
hand  in  hand  together  to  keep  out  that  floating,  high  and  proud 
spirit  of  undue  liberty  on  the  one  hand,  and  a  spirit  of  worldly, 
mindedness  and  covetousness  on  the  other-  Here  I  chiefly 
mean  some  of  our  elders,  and,  indeed,  ministers  too,  who,  some 
of  them,  in  time  past  were  zealously  concerned  to  stand  as 
watchmen  upon  the  walls  of  Zion,  and  not  only  to  give  warning, 
but  have  themselves,  for  a  time,  helped  also  to  keep  out  the 
enemy.  But  alas,  for  want  of  due  watchfulness,  and  giving 
ground  by  little  and  little,  another  spirit  has  entered  them, 
whereby  they  have  grown  indifferent,  cold,  and  lukewarm,  and 
have  in  great  measure  quitted  their  post,  and  their  companions, 
and  have  left  the  burthen  the  greater  upon  their  brethren  that 
could  not  do  the  same  for  truth's  sake.  And  then  the  load  be- 
came too  heavy  for  them,  and  they  could  not  stop  the  torrent 
which  the  others  had  let  in,  while  yet  these  easy  ones  stood  un- 
concerned at  the  sight,  and  have  let  things  go  as  they  will  for 
them.  Surely  such  as  these  will  have  a  dreadful  account  to 
make  in  the  end,  and  far  more  dreadful  than  such  as  never  knew 
the  truth,  or  the  power  of  it. 

The  consideration  of  these  things  (more  or  less  apparent  in 


20 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1725. 


most  places)  has  often  wounded  my  drooping  spirit,  even  to  the 
affecting  my  poor  weak  body.  And  tliis  great  declension  is 
very  much  owing  also  to  the  want  of  stretching  the  line  of  jus- 
tice and  judgment  in  due  time  upon  offenders,  in  the  way  of 
church  discipline,  which  was  left  us  by  our  first  worthy  elders  ; 
and  the  same  spirit  that  led  them  to  it  in  the  beginning  would 
lead  us  to  it  now,  if  we  all  were  truly  led  by  it.  But  oh  !  these 
easy  and  careless  watchmen  will  tell  us  ihey  must  not  over- 
drive the  flock,  but  must  persuade  and  gain  the  lukewarm  by 
love  and  softness.  And  by  their  smoothing  and  daubing  with 
untempered  mortar  so  long,  and  keeping  off  and  fending  the 
stroke  of  discipline  from  taking  hold  of  these  unruly  ones,  either 
in  their  families  or  others,  (as  truth  would  lead  to,)  that  in  the 
end  they  have  grown  so  strong  and  numerous,  that  they  are  past 
persuading,  bending,  or  ruling,  and  then,  in  a  stout  and  sturdy 
spirit,  they  will  tell  us  they  will  be  convinced  of  this,  that,  or 
the  other  thing,  (which  the  testimony  of  truth  has  gone  out 
against),  before  they  will  leave  it  off,  or  do  otherwise.  And 
this  has  been  the  effect  of  this  lukewarm,  indulgent,  and  smooth- 
ing spirit ;  whereas,  if  in  the  beginning  the  discipline  of  truth 
had  been  strictly  kept  to,  I  verily  believe  it  had  been  quite 
otherwise  than  it  is  at  this  day  in  most  of  the  churches  of 
Christ. 

And,  indeed,  in  the  seeing  and  hearing  the  examples  of  these 
lukewarm  elders,  even  for  many  years  past,  (when  I  was  able 
to  travel,)  I  have  made  the  application  to  myself,  with  earnest 
desires  in  my  soul  that  it  might  never  be  my  own  case,  but  that 
the  Lord  in  his  mercy  would  keep  and  preserve  me  to  the  end 
from  that  spirit  which  had  prevailed  upon  many  that  I  far 
esteemed  above  myself,  and  who  had  run  well  for  a  season, 
and  for  a  long  season  too,  and  also  were  very  zealous  for  the 
testimony  of  truth  in  all  its  branches,  and  yet,  for  want  of  due 
watchfulness,  had  not  continued  zealous  to  the  end.  For  we 
right  well  know  that  it  is  holding  out  to  the  end  that  crowns  all, 


^TAT.  9.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


^1 


and  gives  us  an  everlasting  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 
And  it  will  be  our  own  fault  if  we  attain  not  to  it,  for  the  Lord 
has  done  his  part ;  he  has  given  us  a  measure  and  gift  of  his 
Holy  Spirit,  that  will  lead  us  to  it,  by  which  we  may  be  pre- 
served to  the  end. 

But  if,  for  want  of  inward  watchfulness,  we  neglect  or  go 
from  it,  then  the  adversary  gets  ground,  we  are  led  astray  by  this 
enemy  of  souls,  and  at  last  miss  the  crown.  And,  therefore, 
it  was  that  our  blessed  Lord,  knowing  the  aptness  of  our  na- 
tures to  frailty,  says  to  his  own  beloved  disciples,  watch  and 
pray  always,  lest  ye  enter  into  temptation.  This  was  our  first 
parent  Adam's  case,  though  created  in  innocency  ;  for  want  of 
watchfulness,  notwithstanding  the  Lord  had  given  him  sufficient 
power  to  keep  his  command,  yet  by  not  obeying  it,  he,  there- 
fore, fell ;  and  likewise,  it  was  for  want  of  due  watchfulness 
that  many  very  great  and  good  men  of  his  posterity  did  miss 
their  way,  and  displeased  the  Lord,  as  great  Moses,  Aaron,  Da- 
vid, Solomon,  and  others,  and  all  for  want  of  watchfulnsss,  and 
keeping  close  to  the  Lord  their  guide.  And  if  we  descend  even 
to  our  own  times,  how  many  great,  bright,  and  largely-gifted  men 
have  greatly  missed  their  way,  and  others  totally  fallen,  and  all 
for  want  of  keeping  close  to  this  inward  guide  of  the  Lord's  holy 
light  and  Spirit.  And  since  we  have  so  many  and  great  exam- 
ples, we  may  draw  from  them  this  warning  to  ourselves,  to  take 
diligent  heed  to  our  own  standing,  and  keep  upon  our  watch  at 
all  times,  lest  at  any  lime  the  enemy  prevail  upon  our  weak 
sides.  But,  dear  friend.  I  don't  write  any  of  these  things  for  thy 
information,  who  knows  them,  as  well  or  better  than  myself,  nor 
yet  that  I  have  any  ground  or  cause  of  fear  of  thee,  but  in  the 
flowings  of  the  love  of  God  in  my  soul,  as  they  came  into  my 
mind,  in  order  that  it  may  contribute  to  our  mutual  love  lo  one 
another,  and  stir  up  our  pure  minds  by  way  of  remembrance. 

I  received  thy  very  kind  and  acceptable  letter  from  thy  own 
habitation  ;  giving  an  account,  with  other  things,  thou  left  this 


22 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1726. 


nation  pretty  cheerful  and  easy,  -which  was  a  comfort  to  me 
after  so  long  a  time  and  labour  spent  therein,  which  I  have 
often  thought  of  with  endeared  love,  in  that  tliou  left  thy  out- 
ward concerns  to  freely  spend  thy  time  in  the  Lord's  service, 
which  1  know  was  great  in  this  nation,  and  the  more  so  in  thy 
continuance  therein  so  long.  And  though  nothing  that  the  best 
of  men  can  do  is  meritorious,  yet  surely  the  Lord  will  reward 
thee,  and  all  those  that  labour  and  spend  their  time  in  his  vine- 
yard. And  to  this  I  may  add,  in  freedom,  that  if  it  stood  con- 
sistent with  the  Lord's  divine  Providence,  I  should  rejoice  to 
hear  thy  lot  was  likely  to  be  cast  in  this  nation  for  the  service 
of  truth,  for  we  really  want  help  here,  though,  as  to  my  own 
part,  considering  my  age  and  great  infirmity  of  body,  I  cannot 
expect  to  live  to  see  the  benefit  of  it. 

I  find  our  dear  friend  H.  Jackson  is  married,  and  I  hope  to  a 
suitable  companion,  and  with  it  that  the  good  hand  of  Provi- 
dence has  gone  along  with  him  therein  ;  for  I  truly  love  him, 
and  desire  his  welfare  every  way.  Give  him  and  his  wife  my 
dear  love,  and  to  all  those  who  inquire  for  me,  both  known  and 
unknown  to  me,  who  truly  love  the  Lord  Jesus,  with  whom  I 
have  fellowship  in  the  holy  seed  of  life,  all  the  world  over,  more 
especially  those  that  are  zealous  for  his  name. 

I  remain  thy  truly  loving  and  affectionate 

Friend  and  brother, 

Joseph  Pike. 

In  the  year  1726,  having  accomplished  the  several  services 
then  required  of  him,  and  finding  himself  at  liberty  to  attend 
more  to  his  temporal  concerns,  he  began  again  to  keep  house  ; 
he  collected  his  children  around  him,  and  industriously  applied 
himself  to  the  care  of  his  family  and  business  ;  yet  careful 
diligently  to  attend  meetings  for  worship  and  discipline,  both 
those  at  home,  and  some  more  distant,  as  he  felt  himself  en- 
gaged, and  frequently  the  yearly  meeting  in  London,  Services 


^TAT.  16.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHEUGILL. 


23 


quite  compatible  willi  a  due  attention  to  outward  engagements, 
in  business  where  a  right  exercise  of  mind  is  maintained  ;  thus 
fulfilling  the  injunction  to  be  "  fervent  in  spirit,  diligent  in  busi- 
ness, serving  the  Lord." 

In  1727  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Buck,  of  Netherdale, 
a  Friend  of  a  grave,  becoming  deportment,  and  of  suitable  age. 
They  lived  together  in  harmony  and  affection  during  the  remain- 
der of  his  life,  she  surviving  him  about  a  year. 

Feehng  an  engagement  to  pay  a  religious  visit  to  Wales  and 
some  other  parts  towards  the  south,  he  left  home  in  the  second 
month,  1732,  and  proceeded  through  Cheshire  to  Bala,  where 
al  this  time  was  held  the  yearly-meeting  for  Wales  ;  "  and  great 
"  was  the  concourse  of  people,  who,  in  general,  behaved  civilly, 
"  and  were  very  attentive  to  the  testimony  of  truth,  which  was 
"  livingly  declared  by  many  Friends  in  the  several  services  of 
"  that  meeting." 

After  travelling  through  Wales,  he  proceeded  to  Bristol, 
where  their  yearly  meeting  was  begun,  and  he  says,  "  it  pleas- 
"  ed  the  Lord  of  all  our  mercies,  eminently  to  own  and  help  his 
"  people,  greatly  to  our  comfort,  and  the  exaltation  of  his  own 
"  testimony,  which  seemed  to  make  impression  on  many  hearts, 
"  and  the  glorious  name  of  the  Lord  our  God  was  magnified." 

From  Bristol  he  went  through  Gloucestershire,  Wiltshire,  and 
to  London,  and  after  attending  the  yearly-meeting,  returned 
home.  Near  the  close  of  this  year,  Thomas  Fothergill,  his  se- 
cond son,  died,  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  his  age  ;  of  whom> 
his  father  has  been  frequently  heard  to  say,  that  he  never  once  dis- 
pleased him.  And  thus,  as  he  had  feared  God  and  honoured  his 
parents  from  his  youth  upwards,  so  he  felt  the  approach  of  death 
without  terror,  and  departed  in  innocency  and  peace.  It  is  re- 
corded of  him,  that  so  manifest  was  the  religious  awe  and  godly 
fear  that  was  upon  him,  both  in  meetings,  and  in  his  general 

*  Benjamin  Bartlett,  lived  at  Bradford,  Yorivshire,  and  died  there,  12lh 
Mo.  21st,  1759,  aged  82. 


24 


MEMOIRS   AND  LETTERS 


[1733. 


conversation,  as  often  to  impress  others  with  a  sense  of  it,  and 
to  excite  some,  wiio  were  less  regardful  of  their  duty,  to  more 
diligence. 

In  the  following  year  he  was  again  engaged  in  an  extensive 
religious  visit  to  several  of  the  southern  and  western  counties  of 
England,  having  the  company  of  Benjamin  Bartlett.*  From 
Bristol  they  went  into  Devonshire  and  Cornwall,  and  returned 
ihrouofh  several  of  the  Midland  counties.  From  Port  Isaac  he 
wrote  the  following  letter  : — 

FROM  JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO   . 

"  My  health  is  sustained  mercifully,  and  holy  help 
afforded  to  live  and  labour  in  the  service  for  which  I  am  drawn 
here- away,  in  a  manner  which  occasions  reverent  bowing  of 
soul  before  the  Lord,  and  revives  my  faith  in  his  name,  who 
hath,  as  it  is  his  due,  the  praise  of  all  :  and  though  it  is  a  time  of 
great  lowncss  here-away,  respecting  that  dominion  which  Christ 
should  have  in  the  hearts  of  his  people  ;  yet  the  Father's  love 
in  mercy  often  strongly  runs,  and  in  part  prevails,  to  the  com- 
fort and  joy  of  the  truly  inward  ;  and  the  searching,  piercing  la- 
bour, at  times,  makes  some  impression,  giving  to  hope  that  it 
will  not  be  quite  in  vain.  However,  the  arm  of  the  Lord  is 
working,  and  helps  the  truly  honest,  whereof  we  have  a  share 
of  rejoicing  in  him,  and  holy  thankfulness  for  his  humbling  help 
from  day  to  day  ;  and  my  heart  is  deeply  reverent  at  this  time, 
in  mentioning  Divine  mercy  herein.  We  have  been  thi-ough  one 
side  of  Somersetshire,  most  of  Devon,  and  at  the  Land's  End, 
in  this  county  ;  we  expect  it  will  be  near  three  weeks  before 
we  get  through  Somersetshire,  from  whence  we  propose  to  go 
homew£irds  pretty  readily." 

J.  F. 

For  a  considerable  time  after  his  return  from  this  visit,  he 
remained  at  and  near  home  ;  and  during  this  period,  as  well  aa 


^TAT.  17.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


25 


at  many  other  times,  he  was  often  engaged  in  writing  letters  to 
his  children  and  others,  as  well  as  to  some  meetings  of  Friends, 
earnestly  exhorting  them  to  mind  the  day  of  their  visitation,  and 
humbly  and  steadily  to  seek  the  Lord  and  his  truth.  The  fol- 
lowing are  some  of  the  letters  written  about  this  time. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  JOHN. 

"  And  some  tastes  [thus]  afforded  thee  in  the  Father's 
good  will,  he  will  not  neglect,  though  he  suffers  a  plunging  into 
sorrow  and  doubt  of  getting  rightly  along  to  attend,  in  order  to 
keep  best  care  and  pursuit  necessarily  vigorous,  and  secondary 
things  in  their  places  ;  which  is  the  safety,  beauty,  and  true 
riches  of  men.  For  heavenly  care  leads  to  a  quiet  and  balanced 
sort  of  living  and  walking  here  on  earth  ;  a  favour  and  privilege 
of  unspeakable  advantage,  and  which  multitudes  deprive  them- 
selves of  by  bending  their  chief,  and  many  almost  their  whole 
application  to  seek  terrestrials,  and  so  want  the  stay  of  all  stays 
in  needful  times.  Thus,  near  love  and  care  in  my  heart  ceaseth 
not  to  prompt  me  to  desire  and  long  for  thy  right  improve- 
ment, which  I  am  still  given  renewedly  to  hope  will  be 
granted."  

"  My  true  salutation  attends  thee,  under  a  continued 

desire  that  thou  may  est  often  reverently  and  duly  keep  in  mind 
from  whom  all  lasting  good  comes,  and  whose  addition  to  our 
endeavours  gives  the  valuable  improvement ;  and  that  labouring 
to  walk  and  act  in  steady  regard  to  and  hope  in  God,  will  bring 
the  most  holy  quiet  and  serenity  of  mind  at  home,  and  gain  the 
most  truly  honourable  regard  abroad  ;  and,  at  the  same  time, 
help  to  walk  safely  on  the  sea  of  glass,  to  which  this  world  may 
be  well  compared  :  wherefore,  look  carefully  to  truth,  and  the 
beauty  of  its  simplicity,  and  thou  wilt  have  to  behold  the  reel- 
ing, chaffy  spirit,  and  ways  of  this  world,  rather  with  an  eye  of 
scorn  than  love,  and  be  thankful  that  thou  art  in  measure  already 
gathered  and  set  above  it.    And  it  will  be  good  to  consider 

also,  that  though  diligence  is  a  great  and  necessary  thing,  and 
5 


26 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1734. 


in  seeking  the  Divine  favour  the  most  profitable,  because  therein 
is  all  treasure,  both  for  time  and  eternity,  and  there  is  certainly 
a  blessing  from  God  on  the  truly  diligent ;  yet  it  may  likewise 
be  necessary  to  remember,  that  "  the  race  is  not  always  to  the 
swift,"  but  patience,  with  the  exercise  of  faith  in  the  hidden 
arm  of  power,  brings  to  see  great  things  many  ways.  And  thus, 
dear  child,  may  the  hand  of  the  God  of  the  living  be  with  thee, 
and  guide  thee  in  his  counsel,  and  to  his  praise  :  and  this  is 
my  earnest  longing  for  thee."  

J.  F. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  JOHN. 

"Wherefore,  dear  son,  as  a  wise  man  hath  exhorted,  with 
all  thy  getting,  get  understanding.  I  accordingly  entreat  thee 
to  seek  principally  after  improvement  in  acquaintance  with  the 
sanctifying  hand,  and  to  learn  the  way  and  the  end  of  its  turn- 
ing ;  and  also  that  stillness  is  required,  when  we  see  that  no 
hand  but  the  Lord's  can  open  the  way,  and  bring  the  long-for 
help.  And  yet  that  help  and  salvation  is  to  be  looked  for  reve- 
rently and  hopingly  ;  and  in  so  applying  on  our  part,  the  Lord 
our  gracious  God  doth,  and  will,  delight  to  regard,  and  work  so 
that  his  arising  may  fill  the  soul,  and  engage  it  in  present  glad- 
ness, and  strengthened  faith  in  his  arm,  and  renewed  trust  yet 
to  travel  on.  And  thus  his  gracious  workings  bring  forth  praise 
and  holy  admiration  to  hi^  great  and  mighty  name,  wherein 
alone  is  that  salvation,  and  those  riches,  that  are  good  for  all." 

"  May  the  feeling  knowledge  hereof,  and  an  humble  hope 
and  trust  to  be  guided  and  balanced  by  the  invisible  Holy  One, 
guard  and  stay  thee  through  the  unsettling  struggles  that  may 
attend  thee.  For,  betwixt  the  converse  and  pursuits  of  the 
unmortified  world,  however  polished  by  human  endeavours,  and 
the  earthly  nature  in  ourselves  ;  with  the  gilded  appearance  of 
penetration,  comprehensiveness  of  reasoning  and  finesse,  of  many 


^TAT.   18.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


27 


among  the  mora  learned  part  of  mankind,  and  the  hllle,  low, 
yet  pure  and  powerful  seed,  which  at  times  makes  itself  known 
indisputably,  yet,  hides  itself  again  ;  creatures  are  liable  to  dan- 
gerous tossings,  and  good  beginnings,  ideas,  and  desires,  of 
God's  own  begetting,  have  unhappily  miscarried ;  and,  instead 
of  coming  nearer  the  experience  of  salvation  being  as  walls  and 
bulwarks  about  them  in  a  quiet  habitation,  too  many,  for  want 
of  carefully  looking  towards  the  true  port,  have  been  gradually, 
by  one  wave  after  another,  carried  off  to  sea  again,  and  ship- 
wrecked in  the  loose,  unbottoraed  conceptions  and  interests  of 
this  world.  Wherefore,  cleave  close,  I  pray  thee,  to  the  immov- 
able rock,  the  spiritual  appearance  of  the  Father  and  the  Son, 
in  whom  is  all  might,  and  all  sufficiency;  and  I  fully  believe 
he  will  be  thy  God,  thy  Saviour,  thy  Shepherd,  to  lead  and 
feed  thee,  thy  Shield,  and  exceeding  great  Reward.  Amen." 

J.  F. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  JOHN, 

"   As  my  mind  has  been  concerned  in  much  affectionate 

care  on  thy  account,  and  sometimes  a  lively  hope  hath  affected 
my  soul  with  comfort,  that  thou  might  become  a  man  for  God, 
and  so  to  walk  in  his  fear  that  he  might  be  pleased,  to  manifest 
his  gracious  care  over  thee,  so  I  am  under  humble  and  anxious 
desires,  that  thou  may  watch  against  the  pollution  of  the  lying 
vanities  of  this  corrupting  age,  and  the  spirit  of  the  world  ;  being 
well  and  thoroughly  assured  the  Divine  Being  requires  it  at  our 
hands,  and  is  only  well-pleased  with  those  who  walk  uprightly 
before  hirri,  and  are  truly  afraid  of.  and,  therefore,  steadily  strive 
against,  leaning  to  any  thoughts  or  practices  which  are  contrary 
to  the  Divine  mind,  cither  in  greater  or  lesser  matters  ;  and  they 
have  the  easiest  work  of  it  who  are  the  most  duly  resolute  in 
early  time,  and  firmly  stand  and  walk  according  to  understanding ; 
whereas,  bending  a  little  here,  and  a  little  there,  for  which  ex- 


28  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS,  &C.  [1734. 

cuses  will  be  ready  at  hand,  but  of  the  evil  one's  preparing,  and 
yielding  and  leaning  aside  always  weakens  and  enslaves,  and 
renders  that  dwarfish  which  the  Lord  of  all  power  would  make 
strong,  healthy,  and  sound,  and  able  to  walk  in  his  way  with 
alacrity." 

J.  F. 


CHAPTER  III. 


During  tliis  interval  of  comparative  cessation  from  the  more 
extended  services  in  which,  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  John 
Fothergill  had  so  often  been  engaged,  an  exercise  of  mind  which 
he  had  felt  for  some  years,  once  more  to  visit  the  churches  in 
America,  was  matured,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year  1735,  being 
clear  that  the  proper  time  was  come  for  the  performance  of  this 
important  and  arduous  engagement,  he  made  preparation  for  it, 
being  then  in  the  60th  year  of  his  age,  and  left  his  wife  and  family 
in  the  second  month,  1736,  proceeding  towards  London, 
"  having,"  he  says,  "  many  good  meetings,  in  the  sense  of  the 
"  love  and  power  of  truth  amongst  Friends,  in  many  places." 

"  After  some  weeks'  stay  with  Friends  in  London,  in  the 
"  labour  of  the  Gospel,  under  the  merciful  assistance  of  the 
"  power  and  love  of  God,  my  spirit  being  clear  and  at  libertj'-, 
"  and  a  ship  being  ready,  I  went  on  board  a  vessel  bound  for 
"  Philadelphia.  We  sailed  the  next  day,  and  arrived  there  safe 
"  and  well  on  the  6th  of  the  6th  Month,  having  an  easy,  good 
"  passage,  and  more  especially  so,  because  of  the  favour  of  the 
"  lively  sense  of  the  Divine  presence  being  often  renewed, 
"  under  which  my  soul  humbly  worshipped  God,  who  is  worthy 
"  for  ever." 

At  the  time  that  he  embarked  on  this  his  third  and  last  visit 
to  America,  he  had  five  children  remaining,  who  will  be  briefly 
mentioned  here,  before  proceeding  with  the  account  of  his  son 
Samuel,  whose  life  and  labours  form  the  more  immediate  object 
of  this  work. 

Alexander,  his  eldest  son,  at  this  time  26  years  of  age,  was 
married  and  settled  at  Carr-End,  which  his  father  had  relin- 
quished to  him.  He  had  afterwards  a  numerous  family,  and 
continued  to  reside  upon  the  family  estate  until  his  death  in 


30  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1736* 

1788,  when  it  was  inherited  by  his  son  William  Fothergill,  who 
also  lived  at  Carr-End  until  his  decease,  in  1837,  when  the  pro- 
perty descended  to  his  children. 

John,  the  second  surviving  son,  was  born  in  1712.  After 
leaving  school,  he  was  placed  as  an  apprentice  at  Bradford,  with 
Benjamin  Bartlelt,  a  Friend  and  surgeon  there.  He  afterwards 
prosecuted  the  study  of  physic  at  Edinburgh,  where,  in  1736, 
he  took  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  then  passed  some  time  at 
Leyden,  and  other  places  on  the  continent,  and  settled  in 
London.  Here  he  became  justly  distinguished  for  eminence  in 
his  profession,  and  as  a  zealous  promoter  of  science  and  natural 
history,  as  well  for  his  extensive  benevolence  and  philanthropy, 
and  for  his  great  use  and  service  as  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends. 

Joseph,  the  next  son,  born  in  1713,  married  Hannah  Kelsall, 
of  Warrington,  where,  at  the  time  of  his  father's  departure  for 
America,  he  was  settled  in  business,  and  where  he  continued 
to  reside,  respected  and  beloved,  until  his  decease,  which  took 
place  in  1761,  in  the  48th  year  of  his  age,  leaving  one  son  and 
six  daughters,  some  of  them  of  tender  age,  to  lament  their  great 
loss,  their  mother  having  died  a  few  years  before. 

Ann  Fothergill,  the  only  daughter  of  her  parents,  was 
born  in  1718.  She  was  never  married,  but  continued  with  her 
father  until  his  decease  ;  she  then  passed  a  few  years  in  the 
family  of  her  brother  Joseph,  at  Warrington.  In  1750,  she 
removed  to  London,  to  reside  with  her  brother  John,  and  with 
him  she  remained,  his  constant  companion,  friend,  and  helper, 
until  his  decease,  in  1780.  She  survived  him  many  years,  con- 
tinuing to  reside  in  London,  esteemed  and  beloved ;  and  in  1802, 
closed  a  long  life  of  usefulness  and  benevolence,  being  in  the 
85th  year  of  her  age,  and  was  the  last  survivor  of  the  family. 

Samuel  Fothergill,  the  sixth  son  of  John  and  Margaret 
Fothergill,  was  born  at  Carr-End,  on  the  9th  of  9th  month, 
1715,  O.  S.  He  was  very  little  more  than  three  years  old, 
when  the  death  of  his  mother  deprived  him  of  her  tender  care. 


^TAT.  20.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


31 


Of  his  early  youlh  but  little  is  now  known.  He  and  his  bro- 
ther John  were  at  school  together  at  Briggflats,  near  Sedbergh  ; 
and  he  also  passed  some  time  at  Sutton,  in  Cheshire,  the  resi- 
dence of  his  maternal  uncle,  Thomas  Hough,  to  whom,  with 
others  of  his  relations  and  friends,  John  Fothergill  committed 
the  care  of  his  children,  during  his  second  visit  to  America,  and 
when  absent  on  other  religious  services.  Of  this  charge  a  large 
share  devolved  upon  Thomas  Hough,  who  was  well  qualified 
for  the  trust,  and  discharged  it  faithfully.  In  particular,  the 
care  and  education  of  John  and  Joseph  had  devolved  much  upon 
him,  and  through  his  means  their  brother  Samuel  was  placed 
apprentice,  as  a  shopkeeper,  with  Henry  Ardern,  a  Friend,  at 
Stockport. 

Samuel  Fothergill  was  at  this  time  about  seventeen  years 
of  age  ;  he  was  endowed  with  considerable  talents ;  he  had  a 
strong  mind,  and  was  of  an  active,  lively,  and  even  volatile  dis- 
position. These  qualities  caused  his  company  to  be  much 
sought  after,  and  early  introduced  him  into  society  at  Stock- 
port, of  an  injurious  and  hurtful  character,  calculated  to  dissi- 
pate and  eradicate  those  lessons  of  piety  and  virtue  which  his 
worthy  father  had  earnestly  laboured  to  impress  upon  the  minds 
of  all  his  children. 

Yielding  to  the  temptations  to  which  he  was  thus  exposed, 
Samuel  gave  way  to  the  indulgence  of  his  evil  passions,  and, 
with  his  new  companions,  abandoned  himself  to  the  pursuit  of 
folly  and  dissipation.  This  downward  path  he  continued  for 
some  time,  and  the  state  into  which  it  brought  him,  as  after- 
wards described  by  himself,  and  the  view  which  he  subsequently 
took  of  his  condition  at  this  time,  is  striking  and  affecting  :  — 
"  I  wandered  far  from  the  garden  enclosed,  and  laid  myself  open 
"  to  the  enemy  of  my  soul :  I  kept  the  worst  company,  and 
"  subjected  myself  to  almost  every  temptation,  broke  through 
"  the  fence  of  the  sacred  enclosure,  and  trampled  it  under  my 
"  feet ;  and  when,  for  a  time,  I  found  the  least  inclination  to  do 
"  good,  evil  was  present  with  me,  and  I  went  on  from  one 


32 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1736. 


"  degree  of  iniquity  to  another.  My  wickedness  so  far  in- 
"  creased  with  my  dihgence,  that  at  length,  alas  !  I  beheld  the 
"  strong  wall  broken  down,  the  garden  wall  destroyed,  the 
"  mound  left  defenceless,  and  no  hope  left  of  returning  peace  to 

"  my  afflicted  soul  !"  "  I  strayed  to  that  degree,  that  my  life 

"  became  a  burden  to  me,  and  I  wished  that  I  had  never  been 
"  born." 

The  downward  course  which  he  thus  pursued  was  not,  how- 
ever, of  long  duration,  nor  was  he  utterly  cast  off  nor  forsaken, 
even  in  the  midst  of  this  sinful  career.  Many  were  the  strivings 
of  the  Spirit  of  Truth  with  his  soul,  and  frequent  the  visitations 
of  Divine  grace.  He  says — "  He  who  had  kindled  breathings 
"  in  my  soul  after  Him,  would  [even  then]  sometimes  break  in 
"  upon  me.''  And  again  : — "  Though  I  had  drunk  up  iniquity 
"  as  an  ox  drinketh  up  water,  although  I  had  exceeded  all  others 

in  sin,  and  had  long  done  despite  to  him,  yet  there  was  mercy 
"  with  him  that  he  might  be  feared.'' 

Yet  did  he  continue  for  a  time  to  resist  these  offers  of  mercy, 
and  to  turn  aside  from  the  visitations  of  Divine  regard,  thus  gra- 
ciously continued  to  him  ;  and  many  were  the  deep  trials  and 
conflicts  through  which  he  passed,  alternately  yielding  and  re- 
sisting, until  at  length  his  spiritual  state  and  his  danger  were 
very  forcibly  brought  before  him,  attended  by  a  deep  persua- 
sion that  these  offers  of  mercy  would  be  no  more  renewed,  and 
that  if  he  now  any  longer  resisted,  the  day  of  his  visitation 
would  be  over,  and  his  destruction  certain  and  inevitable.  So 
powerful  was  this  impression,  that  it  brought  him  into  great 
trouble  and  distress,  and  caused  renewed  and  very  earnest 
prayers  for  help  and  strength ;  he  cried  mightily  for  deliverance, 
and  says — "  My  lips  quivered,  and  my  belly  trembled,  that 
"  my  soul  might  rest  in  the  day  of  trouble." 

This  help  and  this  strength  were  mercifully  granted,  and  he 
was  enabled  to  maintain  his  ground :  he  was  now  twenty  years 
of  age,  and  the  altered  circumstances  in  which  he  was  placed 
were  favourable  to  the  progress  of  repentance  and  conversion  : 


^TAT.  20.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


33 


he  was  removed  from  Stockport,  and  had  found  a  shelter  and 
a  home  in  the  family  of  his  brother  Joseph  at  Warrington  ; 
here,  and  in  the  house  of  his  uncle  Thomas  Hough,  at  Sutton, 
he  had  many  seasons  of  retirement,  peculiarly  favourable  to  the 
present  state  of  his  mind. 

Tlie  intended  departure  of  his  father  for  America,  and  their 
parting  interview,  were  also  conducive  to  his  help. 

Deeply  afflicting  to  John  Fothergill  was  the  past  conduct  of 
his  son  Samuel :  the  evil  of  his  ways,  and  his  grievous  depar- 
ture from  those  paths  of  truth  and  virtue,  in  which  he  had,  by 
long  example  and  often  inculcated  precept,  endeavoured  to 
train  all  his  children,  caused  him  much  sorrow  and  distress. 
He  was  now  about  to  embark  for  a  distant  land,  in  the  service 
and  cause  of  his  Lord  and  Master,  and  the  conviction  that  he 
was  leaving  behind  him  a  beloved  son,  for  whose  restoration 
and  welfare  he  had  often  put  up  his  prayers,  and  yet  who  had 
so  deeply  revolted  from  the  law  of  God,  was  as  the  wormwood 
and  the  gall — bitter  indeed  to  his  soul.  Memorable  and  affecting 
was  their  last  interview  :  after  once  more  imparting  to  his  son 
deep  and  impressive  counsel,  he  took  his  leave  in  these  words  : — 
'*  And  now,  son  Samuel,  farewell  ! — farewell — and  unless  it  be 
"  as  a  changed  man,  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  any  wish  ever  to 
"  see  thee  again." 

These  parting  expressions,  this  powerful  appeal  from  a  father 
whom,  notwithstanding  his  disobedience,  he  still  tenderly  loved, 
uttered  during  what  mig'it  probably  be  the  last  time  they  should 
meet  in  this  life,  together  with  the  awful  solemnity  and  deep 
feeling  with  which  they  were  accompanied,  produced  a  strong 
impression  upon  Samuel  Fothergill ;  they  remained  as  if 
engraven  upon  his  heart,  and  assisted  to  confirm  and  strengthen 
him  in  the  path  of  repentance  and  conversion  upon  which  he 
had  entered,  and  which,  happily  for  him,  he  now  experienced 
to  be  permanent. 

Thus,  yielding  to  the  powerful  convictions  of  Divine  grace, 

and  as  the  Spirit  that  convinceth  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and 
6 


34 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[173G. 


of  judgment,  wrought  in  his  heart,  he  came  to  feel  the  terrors 
of  the  Lord  for  sin,  and  was  made  wilhng  to  abide  under  his 
righteous  judgment,  because  he  had  sinned,  and  so  was  brought 
into  a  state  of  deep  repentance ;  and  as  a  brand  plucked  out  of 
the  burning,  and  as  one  awakened  from  the  sleep  of  death,  in 
due  time,  he  witnessed  a  dehverance  from  the  bondage  of  cor- 
ruption, and  a  being  created  anew  unto  holiness,  the  end  whereof 
is  eternal  life,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

Of  the  many  conflicts  and  baptisms  through  which  he  passed 
during  this  work,  or  of  the  advancement  which  he  was  enabled 
to  make  towards  that  thorough  establishment  and  settlement  in 
the  truth  which  he  was  favoured  afterwards  so  eminently  to 
experience,  no  distinct  or  separate  account  is  now  to  be  found  : 
such  a  record  from  his  own  pen  would  have  been  interesting 
and  deeply  instructive.  Yet  there  is  ground  to  believe  that 
after  a  time  his  progress  was  rapid  and  steady. 

In  his  correspondence  he  was  sometimes  led  to  speak  of  his 
state,  and  of  the  dealings  of  the  Lord  with  his  soul,  as  some  of 
the  following  letters  show  :  they  also  contain  proofs  of  the 
rejoicing  which  his  return  and  conversion  produced  in  the 
minds  of  his  friends,  mingled  with  excellent  counsel  and  earnest 
solicitude  for  his  stability  and  preservation. 

Amongst  those  who  thus  extended  towards  him  this  care, 
was  Susanna  Croudson,  of  Warrington ;  she  was  an  acceptable 
minister  in  the  Society,  of  which  they  both  were  members. 
She  was  some  years  older  than  himself,  and  by  her  religious 
experience,  and  the  care,  advice,  and  judicious  encouragement, 
which  were  early  and  frequently  extended,  she  was  made 
peculiarly  helpful  to  him.  He  found  in  her  a  friend  to  whom  he 
could  unburthen  his  mind  of  a  portion  of  its  distress,  and  from 
whose  sympathy  and  advice  he  often  found  relief,  and  Avilh  whom, 
as  he  advanced  in  his  spiritual  path,  he  often  took  sweet  counsel. 

Some  of  his  feelings  under  the  change  which  had  been 
wrought  in  him  were  communicated  to  his  friends  in  the  follow- 
ing letter. 


^TAT,  21.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


35 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  THE  MONTHLY  MEETING. 

Dear  Friends, 

It  hath  lain  heavy  upon  me  for  some  time  to  write  a 
few  Hnes  to  you  upon  the  following  subject. 

The  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  his  everlasting  kindness,  that  hath 
long  strove  with  my  soul,  has  been  pleased  to  unstop  my  deaf 
ear,  that  I  might  hear  him,  the  shepherd  of  his  flock,  and  lo  open 
my  blind  eyes,  and  let  me  see  my  state  as  it  really  was,  very 
desperate  and  very  lamentable  ;  he  has  shown  me  the  dreadful 
precipice  I  was  at  the  brink  of,  and  breathed  into  me  the  breath 
of  life,  in  order  that  I  might  arise  from  the  dead,  and  live  ;  he 
has  set  my  sins  in  order  before  me,  and  shown  me  how  far  I 
had  estranged  myself  from  him,  raising  strong  desires  in  me  to 
return  to  him,  the  Redeemer  of  my  soul ;  the  consideration  of 
which  has  raised  in  my  heart  a  just  abhorrence  of  my  former 
practices,  that  induces  me  to  make  this  public  declaration  of 
them,  which  I  desire  to  do  in  a  few  words. 

I  know  my  sins  are  so  many,  and  so  obvious  to  every  one, 
that  it  is  impossible  and  needless  to  recount  and  remark  upon 
them,  for  I  was  then  in  the  bond  of  iniquity,  though  it  has 
pleased  the  Father  of  Mercies  to  bring  me  since  into  the  very 
gall  of  bitterness,  and  into  anxiety  of  soul  inexpressible,  yea, 
not  to  be  apprehended  by  any  but  those  who  have  trod  the  same 
path,  and  drunk  of  the  same  cup  :  yet,  blessed  be  the  name  of 
God,  he  who  hath  kindled  breathings  in  my  soul  after  him,  would 
sometimes  break  in  upon  rac,  and  though  the  waves  of  Jordan 
have  gone  over  my  head,  his  supporting  arm  was  underneath, 
that  I  should  not  be  discouraged.  He,  in  his  infinite  love,  has 
given  me  to  understand  that  the  things  which  belong  to  my 
peace  were  not  utterly  hid  from  my  eyes ;  that  though  I  had 
drunk  up  iniquity  as  an  ox  drinketh  up  water,  although  I  had 
exceeded  all  others  in  sin,  had  long  done  despite  to  him,  yet 
there  was  mercy  with  him  that  he  might  be  feared. 


36 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1736. 


Now  would  I  address  myself  to  the  youth  among  you.  In 
a  certain  sense  of  the  Divine  extendings  of  that  love  wherewith 
he  hath  loved  us  do  I  salute  you,  with  sincere  desires  that  that 
God  which  visited  our  fathers  while  aliens  and  strangers  to 
him,  may  be  our  God,  that  we  may  embrace  the  day  of  our 
visitation,  and  not  turn  our  backs  upon  so  great  a  mercy  as  he, 
I  am  sensible,  is  daily  extending.  Oh  !  I  have  tasted  of  his 
love ;  I  have  had  to  celebrate  his  name  ;  and  though  unfit  for 
the  work,  I  cannot  be  easy,  nor  discharge  my  known  duty, 
without  entreating  you  to  forsake  the  vanities  of  the  world  ;  for 
the  end  thereof  is  unavoidable  sorrow,  and  endless  torment ; 
but  happy  are  they  who  give  timely  application  in  earnestly 
seeking  the  Lord,  who  will  (I  speak  from  blessed  experience) 
be  found  of  those  who  earnestly  and  diligently  seek  him,  for 
he  has  appeared  to  me  (when  I  was  afraid  I  was  forgot)  as  a 
morning  without  clouds,  to  my  exceeding  great  encouragement 
and  consolation,  and  strengthened  me  in  my  resolution  to  follow 
him  who  has  done  so  much  for  my  soul. 

Bear  with  me  yet  a  little,  for  I  write  not  my  own  words ; 
that  blessed  Saviour  has  laid  it  upon  me,  who  is  willing  that 
all  should  be  saved  and  come  unto  him.  Let  him,  I  entreat 
you,  have  his  perfect  work  in  you  ;  he  will  wash  you,  or  else 
you  have  no  share  in  him.  I  can  truly  say,  that  during  the 
time  of  my  first  conviction,  my  lips  quivered  and  my  belly 
trembled,  that  my  soul  might  rest  in  the  day  of  trouble.  I 
choose  not  to  write  this,  but  I  cannot  be  easy  unless  I  call 
others  to  the  like  enjoyment.  In  bowels  of  tender  love  to  you 
do  I  again  salute  you,  and  take  my  leave  of  you,  with  strong 
desires  that  you  who  are  advanced  in  years,  and  favoured  in 
the  Lord,  may  remember  me,  when  it  is  well  with  you ;  and 
that  I  may  be  again  preserved,  though  beset  with  many  temp- 
tations on  every  hand.  The  Lord  in  mercy  be  near  you,  saith 
my  soul.  Farewell. 

Samuel  Fothergill. 


^TAT.  21.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


37 


WILLIAM  LONGMIRE  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL* 

Kendal,  1736. 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter  came  safe  to  hand,  and  I 
am  truly  glad  to  find  the  happy  remains  of  that  holy  visitation, 
which  I  was  very  sensible,  when  with  you,  was  fully  extended 
unto  thee.  It  was  no  small  satisfaction  to  peix:eive  the  son  of  so 
worthy  a  father  brought  to  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  though 
by  thy  own  will  and  actions  far  unworthy  of  such  a  favour, 
as  also  many  more  have  been.  And  as  I  fully  hope  that  thou 
hast  long  ere  this  sorrowfully  seen  into  the  follies  and  wild  ex- 
travagant ways  of  thy  youth,  and  bitterly  mourned  over  him 
whom  thou  hast  pierced,  so,  I  earnestly  beseech  thee,  keep  it 
often  in  thy  remembrance,  frequently  retire  alone,  and  let  it 
become  still  thy  delight  to  meditate  on  the  law  of  thy  God. 
Seek  always  to  arm  thyself  witli  the  weapons  of  the  Christian 
warfare,  which  still  are  absolutely  necessary  to  thy  preservation 
in  the  way  of  truth,  and  thy  complete  conquest  over  all  the 
force  of  the  enemy  :  and  O  !  think  not  that  the  work  is  already 
•done;  since  thou  hast  been  favoured  with  the  glorious  day  of  our 
God  to  break  forth  and  dawn  upon  thee,  to  open  thy  understand- 
ing, to  influence  thy  will,  and  rectify  thy  judgment,  and  fill  thy 
whole  soul  with  his  precious  goodness,  he  has  made  thy  moun- 
tain strong,  and  the  whole  train  of  Christian  graces  have  ap- 
peared in  their  own  amiable  beauty  and  proportions,  and,  wil- 
lingly attended,  the  enemy  became  baffled,  and  fell  to  a  cessa- 
tion of  arms. 

I  am  very  sensible  this  is  the  respite  that  often  the  first 
gracious  and  humbling  visitation  of  the  Holy  Being  affords  to 
his  favoured  children,  to  give  them  a  full  opportunity  to  view 
their  own  vile  defilements  and  irregular  passions,  and  the  purity, 
truth,  and  harmony  of  religion,  with  all  its  attractive  qualities 

*  The  letters  of  William  Longmire  are  dated  at  Kendal,  but  I  believe 
he  afterwards  lived  at  Sheepscar,  near  Leeds,  and  died  there,  1st  Mo.  26, 
1763.    G.  C, 


38 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1736. 


and  perfeclions,  and  that  the  soul  may  be  filled  with  an  abhor- 
rence of  the  one,  and  tlic  pleasing  prospect  and  delight  of  the 
other. 

Thus  as  babes  are  we  attended,  taken  by  the  hand,  and  gently 
led  along  ;  but  after  all,  it  is  expected  that  we  grow  in  strength, 
and  in  the  more  manly  exercises  of  the  soul  than  our  infant 
state  will  admit  of,  and  may,  perhaps,  be  tried  again  and  again 
with  those  very  temptations  which  have  formerly  presented  ; 
and  who  knows  but  they  may  a  little  harden  upon  our  hands, 
as  we  become  more  capable  to  determine  our  actions  in  favour 
of  the  Christian  religion,  and  a  truly  sober  and  virtuous  life. 
Enemies  without  may  assail,  and  barrenness  and  poverty  of 
soul  within. 

Then,  oh  !  then,  dear  friend,  patience,  hope,  and  faith  call 
in  to  thy  assistance,  and  in  the  resignation  be  pressingly  earnest 
with  thy  God  to  lift  up  his  Spirit  as  a  standard  in  thy  heart 
against  the  enemy,  and  freely  let  him  arise,  and  then  shall  the 
tempter,  and  all  his  pernicious  means  that  he  may  make  use  of, 
flee  before  thee  ;  but  yet,  if  this  should  not  be  in  thy  own  wish 
and  time,  pray  fall  not  lo  murmuring  and  despair  ;  let  the  firs^ 
of  these  before  named  virtues  have  her  perfect  work. 

Dear  friend,  I  heartily  wish  thy  preservation  and  prosperity 
in  the  blessed  truth,  a  joy  to  thy  parent,  a  comfort  to-  thy  bro- 
thers, and  a  blessing  lo  society. 

I  am, 
Dear  Samuel, 

Thy  sincerely  affectionate  friend, 

WfLLIAM  LoNGMIRE. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  SUSANNA  CROUDSOX. 

London,  12th  Mo.,  1736. 
I  find  by  experience,  that  town  or  country  is  alike  to 
me ;  I  am  weak  in  the  one  as  well  as  in  the  other,  when  I  leave 
the  good  hand,  or  it  leaves  me  to  stumble  and  suffer  for  oflfences  ; 


^TAT-  21.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


39 


I  find  that  when  a  degree  of  that  power  surrounds  me,  nothing 
is  too  strong  for  me,  I  conquer  all  ;  but,  alas  !  how  few,  how 
seldom  are  these  seasons  !  This,  however,  I  fird,  that  if  we 
do  stagger,  our  enemy  very  often  gives  us  a  push  ;  and  if  we 
fall,  he  mostly  tramples  upon  us  and  covers  us  with  mire  and 
dirt,  whilst,  perhaps,  we  think  we  are  thrust  down  by  another 
power.  The  time,  perhaps,  will  come,  it  is  our  part  to  wait  with 
patience  till  it  does  come,  that  we  may  be  environed  and  folded 
with  Divine  love. 

Dear  friend,  remember  that  whatever  can  stir  up  the  pure 
mind  in  us  will  be  of  advantage. 

I.  F. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  ROUTH.* 

11th  of  12lh  Mo,,  1736—7. 
I  write  to  thee  as  to  one  who  art  regarded  by  the  Al- 
mighty, and  who  hast,  by  regarding  that  visitation  which  I  too 
long  slighted,  been  preserved  from  the  snares  and  temptations 
of  the  enemy,  and  hast,  though  young  in  years,  attained  to  a 
good  stature  in  the  truth  ;  which,  oh  !  that  it  may  be  my  chief 
care  to  press  after,  to  seek  for  above  all,  is  at  present,  and  I 
hope  will  continue  to  be,  the  earnest  intent  of  my  heart ;  and 
though  I  find  it  my  place  often  to  be  brought  low  and  very  poor, 
as  it  is  at  present,  yet  I  desire  to  wait  my  appointed  time,  un- 
til he  please  to  dispel  those  darksome  clouds,  which  at  times 
bring  me  yet  near  to  a  melancholy,  drooping  state. 

But  I  desire  to  be  entirely  resigned  to  his  will  ;  that  he  may, 
if  he  please,  again  and  again  turn  his  hand  upon  me,  until  he 
hath  purged  away  all  my  dross,  and  made  me  what  best  pleases 

*  John  Routh  resided  at  Manchester  ;  he  was  an  elder,  and  for  many 
years  an  active  and  useful  member  of  society.  He  died  1st  Mo.  31,  1791, 
aged  76. 


40 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1737. 


him,  and  not  myself  nor  others.  But  the  Lord,  who  has  done 
wonderful  ihhigs  for  my  deUverance,  has  mercifully  regarded 
and  reached  unto  me,  Avhile  in  a  state  of  open  defiance  to  his 
tenderly  striving  spirit. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERG[LL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  9th,  1737. 
I  could  have  been  glad  to  have  written  a  few  lines  to 
thee,  but  considering  the  distance  my  past  behaviour  had  justly 
filaced  me  at  in  respect  to  my  friends'  and  relations'  favour,  I 
was  somewhat  doubtful  of  its  kind  reception.  But,  dear  sister, 
I  have  found  it  is  the  want  of  inward  peace  that  is  more  griev- 
ous than  the  want  of  my  friends'  favour,  though  that  be  very 
desirable.  I  found,  upon  examining  my  state,  that  I  was  upon 
the  very  brink  of  destruction  and  ruin,  and  it  pleased  the  Lordt  o 
kindle  in  my  soul  earnest  desires  to  be  delivered  from  my  dread- 
ful condition,  which  the  Lord  in  mercy  showed  to  me  as  it  really 
was,  thereby  bringing  me  into  deep  and  unutterable  anxiety  of 
soul,  that  I  often  was  ready  to  conclude  my  transgressions  were 
more  and  greater  than  any  one's  else,  and  my  state  worse  than 
any  ever  were  in  before.  O  !  the  anguish  of  that  day,  the 
weight  of  sorrow  I  daily  laboured  under  was  more  than  I  can 
express,  or  any  not  acquainted  with  the  operation  of  the  Spirit 
of  judgment  and  of  burning  can  conceive. 

It  is  like  repeating  an  idle  story  to  any  that  are  unacquainted 
with  it,  but  I  have  a  different  opinion  of  thee,  and  thou  hast,  I 
hope,  known  a  degree  of  the  heart-cleansing  power  of  truth) 
though  thou  hast  bsen  preserved  from  those  pollutions  that  hin- 
der us  from  being  properly  acquainted  with  the  Almighty,  and 
finding  thereby  love  and  solid  peace.  But  through  infinite  mer- 
cy I  can  now  say,  with  a  humbly  thankful  heart,  it  was  a  re- 
pentance never  to  be  repented  of ;  for  notwithstanding  my  open 
rebellion  and  defiance  to  the  tenderly  striving  Spirit  of  grace, 


.ETAT.  21.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  41 

that  long  strove  with  me  in  order  for  my  recovery,  I  have  in  a 
degree,  witnessed  favour  from  the  Almighty,  and  the  knowledge 
of  acceptance  with  him,  which  is  more  to  me  than  any  thing 
else.  Great  is  my  reason  to  be  humbly  thankful  for  his  ma- 
ny mercies,  which  my  soul  desires  never  to  be  unmindful  of, 
but,  by  a  yet  more  humble  walking,  and  closer  seeking  after 
him,  seek  to  redeem  my  former  misspent  and  lost  time,  by  re- 
doubling my  diligence,  with  humble  thankfulness  press  after 
him  to  find  my  peace  yet  more  and  more  confirmed,  now  the 
Lord  has  given  me  to  know  they  are  not  yet  hid  from  my  eyes, 
but  yet  may  be  in  a  greater  degree  attained  upon  my  humble 
resignation  to  his  divine  will,  and  proper  and  frequent  applica- 
tion to  him  for  the  farther  discoveries  of  it,  and  strength  to 
perform  it  acceptably  to  him.  Many  yet  continue  to  be  the 
deep  and  humbling  times  I  go  through  ;  many  the  anxieties  of 
soul  I  have  to  pass  under  ;  yet  the  Lord  in  mercy  is  at  times 
helping  me  over  every  thing  that  would  hinder  my  spiritual 
progress,  and  giving  to  find  times  of  refreshment  in  his  divine 
presence.  O  !  that  it  may  be  our  care,  dear  sister,  to  seek 
properly  aftsr  him,  in  order  to  find  renewing  of  strength,  and 
acquaintance  with  him,  that  we  may  thereby  witness  strength 
to  withstand  the  enemy  of  our  souls,  in  all  his  attempts.  May 
it  continue  to  be  my  care  above  all  things,  in  true  thankful- 
ness, to  wait  for  his  appearance,  though  it  may  be  at  times  as 
a  refiner  with  fire,  and  as  a  purifier  of  silver.  May  we  suffer 
him  to  work  effectually  in  our  hearts  ;  great  will  be  our  sat- 
isfaction thereby  to  witness  that  the  Lord's  regard  is  to  us, 
and  his  love  is  near  to  us.  I  cannot  with  too  great  earnest- 
ness recommend  this  to  both  our  consideration  and  practice, 
as  one  knowing  the  judgment  of  the  Lord  for  sin,  and  by  his 
help  a  learning  to  forsake  it,  and  following  him  in  the  ways  of 
his  requiring ;  this  brings  a  true  and  lasting  peace.  May  I 
seek  after  him  again  and  again,  and  enter  into  covenant  with 
him  ;  if  he  will  but  indeed  be  with  me  in  my  way,  and  direct 

me  aright,  I  will  fully  follow  him.    So  marvellous  and  won- 
7 


42 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1737. 


derful  is  ihe  goodness  of  God  to  my  soul,  1  cannot  sufficient- 
ly admire  it,  nor  too  often  repeat  it,  for  I  am  as  a  monument 
of  that  mercy  that  would  have  none  lost,  but  that  all  should 
come  to  the  saving  knowledge  of  himself. 

S.  F. 

ALICE  ROUTH*  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Hawes,  3d  Mo-,  1st,  1737. 

It  was  not  because  I  feared  thy  not  holding  out  to 
the  end,  made  me  Avrile  as  I  did.  but  it  was  in  order  to  encou- 
rage thee  in  thy  journey  through  this  vale  of  tears  ;  for  I  am 
sensible  of  the  many  deep  plungings  that  those  meet  with,  that 
have  set  their  faces  Zionwards.  Oh,  I  have  thought  sometimes 
I  was  quite  forsaken,  and  even  left  to  myself ;  yet,  it  hath 
pleased  him  in  these  times  of  afflictions  to  appear  again,  with 
healing  virtue  in  his  hand.  Dear  friend,  it  is  my  earnest  desire 
that  thou  may  be  preserved  to  the  end,  for  it  was  that  same  arm 
that  turned  thee  which  turned  Saul,  when  he  was  going  to  per- 
secute the  Church.  I  wish  that  it  may  have  the  same  effect 
on  thee  as  it  had  on  Saul,  for  he  reasoned  not  with  flesh  and 
blood,  but  was  obedient  to  him  that  called.  I  would  not  have 
thee  go  into  reasonings  :  for  the  enemy  of  our  souls,  when  he 
cannot  lead  into  those  things  which  we  have  been  prone  to,  he 
then  begins  another  way  ;  that  is,  to  bring  us  to  despair  of  ever 
overcoming  our  enemies,  because  they  are  so  numerous.  But 
it  was  his  arm  that  turned  Saul,  which  brought  salvation,  and 
can  overturn  all  our  enemies,  and  bring  deliverance  to  his 
afflicted  seed ;  for  they  are  as  the  apple  of  his  eye  ;  and 
although  he  may  withhold  his  face  for  a  time,  it  is  in  order  to 
try  our  love  to  him,  and  to  see  whether  we  love  him  above  all 

*  Alice  Routh  was  born  at  Hawes,  in  1704  ;  she  early  received  a  gift 
in  the  ministry,  in  which  she  continued  durin^  a  long  life,  and  died  at 
Hawes,  in  the  fifth  Month,  1791,  aged  87.   A  minister  more  than  60  years. 


.«TAT.  21.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


43 


or  not,  for  lie  will  not  admit  of  any  rivals,  but  will  have  the 
whole  heart  or  none.  So  I'nto  the  Lord  do  I  conamend  thee, 
(together  with  ray  own  soul,)  who  is  the  sure  rock  to  flee 
unto, 

I  remain, 

Thy  sincere  friend, 

Alice  Routh. 

JOHN  ROUTH  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Manchester,  2d  Mo.,  12th,  1737. 

 And,  as  the  operation  of  the  power  of  truth 

is  given  way  unto  in  our  hearts,  it  will  work  out  every  thing 
that  is  of  a  contrary  nature  ;  that  so  we  may  become  fit  taber- 
nacles for  him,  the  Holy  One,  to  dwell  in,  which,  that  it  may 
be  our  chiefest  care  to  press  after,  is  many  times  the  earnest 
breathing  of  my  soul,  notwithstanding  the  many  buffetings,  and 
hard  exercises,  that  fall  to  my  lot :  for  the  adversary,  at  times, 
strongly  suggests  the  need  I  have  of  a  more  eager  pursuit  after 
the  lawful  things  of  this  life  ;  but  I  find  that  except  the  manage- 
ment of  things  temporal  be  kept  in  its  proper  place,  we  shall 
lose  ground  as  to  religion,  and  our  appetite  after  Divine  conso- 
lation will  fail.  Oh,  that  this  may  never  be  our  case,  but  that 
we  may  still  breathe  to  the  Almighty  for  strength  to  undergo 
whatever  we  may  be  proved  with,  in  the  course  of  our  sojourn- 
ing here.  When  I  have  considered  how  some  who  have  known 
the  work  of  truth,  and  have  been  in  a  great  degree  cleansed 
and  enlightened,  yet,  for  want  of  watchfulness,  darkness  has 
come  over  them  again  ;  this  has  many  times  bowed  me  very 
low,  in  strong  desires  that  I  might  always  keep  in  a  sense  of 
my  own  nothingness  and  insufficiency  ;  and  as  we  keep  here, 
I  am  not  without  hope  that  he  who  was  appointed  to  open  the 
prison  doors,  will  in  time  set  us  at  liberty  to  serve  him  in  an 
acceptable  manner. 

John  Rocth. 


44 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTKRS 


[1737. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOSEPH  BROWN. 

Warrington,  3d  Mo.,  9,  1737. 

With  renewed  satisfaction  do  I  now  salute  thee,  desir- 
ing our  mutual  welfare  in  the  best  sense,  that  b}'  a  close  and 
diligent  application  we  may  have  at  times  to  experience  a  being 
drawn  truly  inward,  and  near  to  the  Almighty  helper  and  feeder 
of  his  people  ;  there,  in  a  secret  manner,  to  renew  our  acquaint- 
ance with  him,  and  one  with  another,  in  the  uniting  influences 
of  best  regard ;  there,  surely,  dear  friend,  stands  our  communion 
and  nearest  fellowship,  which  flows  freely  in  our  hearts  one  to 
and  for  another,  when  outwardly  far  separated. 

Thy  letter  was  very  acceptable  to  me,  and  I  perused  it  with 
a  good  degree  of  pleasure,  for  I  thought  it  gave  me  an  idea  of 
a  mind  steadily  resolved  in  the  pursuit  of  virtue,  the  only  lasting 
and  durable  treasure,  which  truly  makes  rich,  and  brings  no 
sorrow  or  sting  with  it.  This  we  have  both,  I  believe,  fre- 
quently experienced  to  be  our  help  and  stay  in  times  of  deep 
and  humble  walkings,  and  low  goings  down,  when  we  have 
been  ready  to  say  no  one  went  so  low  as  we  ;  that  we  had  a 
path  to  tread  few  besides  ever  walked  in.  Then,  my  friend, 
this  inward  treasure  has  been  richly  manifested  for  the  support 
and  strengthening  us  yet  to  wrestle,  in  humble  reverence,  if 
happily  we  might  at  last  have  to  say  with  joy — "  I  cried  and 
thou  heard  me,  O  Lord,  and  helped  me."  This  I  know  is 
more  the  concern  of  a  remnant  than  every  thing  in  the  world 
beside,  for  it  surely  is  only  his  appearance  that  can  bring  joy 
to  the  earnestly  seeking  soul.  I  was  very  glad  to  liear  thou 
had  so  satisfactory  an  account  to  give  of  thy  journey  every 
way,  both  inwardly  and  outwardly.  The  first  being  chiefly  to 
be  regarded ;  the  welfare  of  the  inward  to  be  sought  for  in  a 
diligent  and  yet  fervent  waiting  upon  the  Almighty  for  further 
discoveries,  and  this  will  be  more  and  more  explained  to  us. 
O,  my  dear  friend,  here  surely  stands  our  happiness,  in  fulfilling 


^TAT.  21.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHEIIGILL. 


45 


and  being  made  conformable  to  the  will  of  God,  our  wills  being 
entirely  to  be  brought  into  subjection  to  the  Divine  will.  Have 
not  we,  dear  friend,  in  our  low  estate,  when  troubles  came  over 
tis  and  exercises,  been  like  the  waves  of  the  sea  ?  have  we  not 
then  been  ready  to  say,  any  way  for  peace,  lead  me  in  thy  own 
ways,  and  with  thy  help  I  will  surely  follow  thee  ?  Let  us, 
dear  friend,  not  by  any  means  fall  short  of  true  obedience,  than 
which,  I  can  by  experience  assert,  there  is  no  other  way  to 
peace.  My  mind  is  drawn  out  in  an  unexpected  manner  towards 
thee,  yet  with  a  good  degree  of  hope  that  the  same  Eternal 
Being  who  first  visited  our  sousl,  whilst  in  a  state  of  alienation 
from  him,  will,  in  a  continued  merciful  regard,  be  near  for  our 
best  help,  and  enable  us  to  appear,  if  truly  willing  and  obedient, 
in  his  presence,  with  acceptance. 

Now  must  I  draw  towards  a  conclusion,  with  breathings  of 
soul  for  our  growth  in  the  best  stale,  even  to  a  measure  of  the 
fulness  of  our  holy  head,  and  that  our  expectations  may  be  yet 
more  and  more  upon  him  Then  shall  we  be  often  engaged 
to  seek  him,  and  in  private  to  retire  before  him,  the  chief 
beloved  of  our  souls.  He  will  appear  in  these  private  oppor- 
tunities, to  our  abundant  consolation  and  help  over  our  enemies  ; 
which,  that  it  may  be  more  and  more  our  concern,  is  the  desire 
of  thy  real  friend  in  the  unchangeable  truth. 

S.  F. 

JOHN  ROUTH  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Manchester,  3d  Mo.,  15th,  1737. 

I  join  with  thee  in  real  belief  that  we  shall  be  helped 
forward  towards  the  heavenly  Canaan,  as  we  are  truly  resigned 
in  heart,  to  be  made  what  the  Divine  being  would  have  us  to 
be  :  notwithstanding  the  many  exercises  we  may  meet  with,  a 
great  share  of  which  (I  am  many  tinnes  ready  to  conclude,)  fall 
to  my  lot,  I  fully  believe,  as  we  are  concerned  to  press  through 


46 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1737. 


the  crowd  of  opposition,  if  possible,  to  touch  the  hem  of  his 
garment,  we  shall  witness  heavenly  virtue  in  the  least  touch  of 
his  love;  if  something  of  this  were  not  witnessed,  at  times,  what 
would  become  of  us  ;  when  we  are  bowed  low,  under  a  sense 
of  our  own  nothingness  and  insufficiency,  to  step  one  step  for- 
ward in  that  way,  that  is  well  pleasing  in  his  sight.  I  have 
often  remembered  the  great  strait  that  Israel  of  old  was  in, 
when  the  sea  was  before,  the  inaccessible  mountains  on  each 
hand,  and  their  old  oppressing  enemies  pursuing  hard  after 
them,  from  whose  force  they  were  altogether  unable  to  defend 
themselves ;  the  command  then  was,  stand  still,  and  see  the 
salvation  of  God  :  and,  blessed  be  his  name,  he  is  still  showing 
his  salvation  to  his  poor  afflicted  Israel,  as  they  are  ceasing 
from  their  own  willings,  and  runnings,  and  actings,  and  depend- 
ing only  upon  his  providential  care.  It  is,  at  present,  my  sincere 
desire,  that  we  may  press  forward  after  a  close  communion  with 
him,  and  that  our  pursuit  after  the  necessaries  of  this  life  may 
be  bounded  by  his  will,  which,  as  we  have  an  eye  unto,  I  don't 
doubt  but  that  we  shall  be  favoured  with  all  that  is  necessary 
for  food  and  raiment. 

John  Routh. 

ALICE  ROUTH  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Hawes,  4th  Mo.,  8th,  1737. 

I  would  not  have  thee  discouraged  by  thinking  that 
thou  art  out  of  thy  place  ;  for  if  the  enemy  could  not  lead  thee 
into  other  things  which  would  have  drawn  down  the  displeasure 
of  thy  God  upon  thee,  he  was  not  unlikely  to  put  fears  in  thy 
mind  that  thou  didst  not  worship  aright ;  it  is  what  others  have 
been  tossed  with  ;  but  praised  be  the  powerful  name  of  the 
great  being  that  hath  not  sufTered  the  devouring  enemy  to  destroy 
his  plants ;  his  regard  is  unto  the  workmanship  of  his  hands, 
although  we  be  tempted  and  tried  with  deep  poverty  ;  it  was  the 


jETat.  21.] 


OP  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


47 


lot  of  our  dear  Redeemer,  but  he  overcame  the  enemy,  and  as 
we  follow  him  we  sliall  be  made  to  overcome,  in  liis  due  and 
appointed  time. 

A.  RoUTH. 

WILLIAM  LONGMIRE  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Kendal,  5th  Mo.,  25th,  1737. 

Dear  Samuel, 

I  hope  that  good  hand  and  power  that  visited  thee, 
and  made  thee  sensible  of  his  will,  and  of  the  unfitness  of  thy 
own,  and  gave  thee  power  in  degree  to  deny  the  one  and  obey 
the  other,  to  thy  great  and  unspeakable  joy,  has  not  forgotten 
to  be  gracious  and  merciful  in  the  time  of  need,  but  yet  vouch- 
safes to  administer  of  the  comforts  of  his  grace  and  love,  to 
maintain  and  prosper  thee  in  the  heavenly  truth.  Let  no  pov- 
erty or  barrenness  of  soul  dismay  thee  ;  no  new  or  unexpected 
surprise,  as  giants  in  the  land,  ever  give  thee  reason  to  call  the 
truth  of  the  visitation  and  mission  in  question.  Many  are  the 
fears  and  false  reasonings  which  at  times  will  rush  upon  the 
soul,  especially  in  times  of  weakness  and  want.  The  imagina- 
tion is  scarce  ever  more  at  work,  and  more  apt  to  create  false 
images,  than  when  the  Divine  object  is  partly  withdrawn.  And 
if  there  is  not  a  steady  bearing  and  holding  fast  our  faith,  and  a 
resignation  of  the  whole  soul  unto  God,  we  shall  certainly,  in 
such  seasons,  be  very  apt  to  suffer  loss,  and  abundantly  weaken 
our  own  hands,  and  give  ourselves  up  into  the  power  of  the 
enemy.  Bat,  dear  Samuel,  be  thou  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in 
the  power  of  his  might,  and  he  will  strengthen  thee  yet  more, 
and  increase  thy  joy,  and  confirm  and  stablish  thee  in  his  truth. 

W.  LoNGMIRE. 


48 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1737. 


JOSEPH  BROWN  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Broxbourne,  6th  Mo.  17,  1737. 

I  am  sensible  that  there  is  nothing  that  unites  and 
brings  so  near  to  one  another  as  the  love  of  the  most  holy 
truth  ;  and,  as  we  abide  in  it,  though  we  may  be  far  separated 
in  body,  we  shall  be  near  in  spirit,  and  witness  that  fellowship 
and  holy  communion  that  the  worldly  minded  are  ignorant  of. 
So  I  sincerely  desire  that  we  may  abide  here  ;  for,  sure  I  am, 
there  is  no  other  place  of  refuge  for  us  poor  worms  to  flee  to. 
There  is  a  remnant  that  can  experimentally  say,  that  it  has  been 
often  inexpressible  satisfaction  to  them,  that  in  the  Lord  there 
is  strength  ;  were  it  not  so,  they  had  fainted  long  ago. 

So,  dear  friend,  although  many  are  the  trials  and  exercises 
that  those  may  meet  with  here,  as  they  are  sincerely  engaged  to 
look  over  all  to  their  unconquered  captain  Christ  Jesus,  he  will 
keep  them  from  fear  and  from  falling  into  the  snares  of  the 
wicked  one.  Oh,  that  I  may  keep  my  eye  steadily  to  him ; 
that  so  I  may  be  enabled  to  follow  him  in  the  ways  of  his  lead- 
ings and  requirings  ;  for  sure  I  am,  there  is  no  other  way  to 
obtain  true  peace  with  him. 

Thou  hast  been  often  brought  into  my  mind,  with  desires  for 
thy  welfare  every  way  ;  but  in  an  especial  manner  in  the  most 
holy  truth,  which  thou  hast,  through  the  love  of  our  heavenly 
Father,  chosen  for  thy  portion  ;  and  I  have  to  believe,  as  thou 
comest  to  be  more  obedient  and  freely  given  up  thereto,  the 
Lord  will  enlarge  thy  heart,  and  pour  down  his  heavenly  bless- 
ings upon  thy  soul,  like  the  former  and  the  latter  rain  ;  and 
though  thou  mayest  meet  with  deep  trials,  and  provings,  and 
reasonings,  and,  as  it  were,  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  to 
pass  through  at  times  ;  yet,  as  thou  art  engaged,  in  sincerity  of 
heart,  to  look  over  all  and  through  all  to  holy  Jesus,  he  will  pre- 
serve thee  from  the  fear  of  evil,  and  from  falling  into  the  snares 
of  the  wicked  one.     Oh,    methinks   the  Lord's  love  is 


.CTAT.  21.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


49 


extended  towaris  a  young  and  rising  generation,  and  if  they 
embrace  it,  he  will  be  good  to  ihem :  and  as  they  are  truly 
resigned  and  freely  given  up  to  his  Divine  will,  I  do  believe  that 
he  will  raise  many  up  from  the  sheep-fold,  and  send  them  to 
see  how  their  brethren  fare :  and  not  only  so,  but  will  strengthen 
and  inspirit  them  to  go  against  the  great  Golialh,  that  is  so 
much  vaunting  over  and  defying  the  armies  of  the  living  God  ; 
and  though  there  may  be  those  that  may  despise,  yet  the  just- 
ness of  their  cause  shall  answer  for  them,  like  poor  David  in 
innocency  saying, — "  Is  there  not  a  cause  ? " 

Joseph  Brown.* 

P.  S. — I  often  see  thy  brother  John,  and  his  company  is 
very  acceptable  to  me ;  his  sweet,  innocent  carriage  and 
deportment  are  exemplary  to  the  youth  of  that  great  city 
where  his  lot  is  now  cast ;  I  desire  that  many  may  follow  his 
example. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  6th  Mo.,  8th,  1737. 

The  day  after  I  received  thine  I  was  visited  with  the 
rheumatism,  so  that  I  have  not  quite,  as  yet,  regained  the  useof 
my  arms.  I  have  had  a  very  hard  turn  as  I  ever  had  in  my 
life  for  violent  pain  outwardly,  yet  T  never  was  so  easy  under 
it,  having  often  sensibly  to  enjoy  the  Divine  presence  of  the 
Physician  of  value,  who,  blessed  be  his  name,  was  near  to  my 
support,  in  encouraging  love  to  draw  me  nearer  and  nearer  to 
himself,  where  the  true  and  humble  followers  of  Christ  find  a 
secure  rest  in  all  their  trials  and  exigencies  of  every  kind.  O, 
dear  sister,  may  we  be  of  the  number  of  those  who  have  chosen 
the  Lord  for  our  portion,  and  his  truth  for  the  lot  of  our  inherit- 
ance ;  then,  whenever  we  have  to  engage  with  sickness,  or  any 

■  »  Joseph  Brown  died  near  Hertford,  8th  Mc,  20th,  1748,  aged  42. 
8 


50 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1737. 


Other  trial,  our  peace  will  spring  up  and  flow  like  a  river  ;  our 
hearts  will  be  united  in  a  bond  of  peace  which  nothing  can 
disturb,  and  which  will  last  beyond  the  grave,  and  this  makes 
every  thing  easy,  so  that  we  shall  be  ready  to  cry  out — Lead 
mc  in  thy  ways,  O  Lord  !  be  thou  near  me,  and  ready  for  my 
help,  and  I  shall  not  fear  the  number  of  my  enemies  ;  if  I  may 
be  favoured  with  thy  presence,  I  shall  not  be  afraid.  The  re- 
membrance of  the  many  mercies  of  the  Almighty,  extended  to 
my  soul,  enlarges  my  heart,  and  raises  strong  cries  that  I  may 
be  helped  to  walk  in  the  way  that  is  well  pleasing  to  him,  in 
true  thankfulness  of  heart. 

S.  F. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

London,  7th  Mo.,  7th,  1737. 

The  few  lines  which  thou  sent  me  were  very  accept- 
able, as  they  proceeded  from  a  mind  tinctured  with  good,  and 
the  openings  of  true  fraternal  love.  May  those  dawnings  yet 
shine  brighter,  may  they  dispel  all  darkness,  and  kindle  that 
endearing  flame,  which  neither  length  of  time,  nor  all  the  ene- 
my's efforts,  will  ever  be  able  to  extinguish.  In  a  sense  of  thy 
sufferings  and  trials,  I  salute  thee  ;  stand  fast,  and  immoveable  ; 
bear  with  constancy  the  enemy's  assaults  ;  Heaven  will  inspire 
thee  at  length  with  secret  fortitude  ;  thy  hands  will  be  strength- 
ened, triumph  and  conquest  will  be  known  ;  but  may  we  know 
sufliciently  the  command — Steady,  steady,  to  be  adhered  to. 

Through  mercy,  I  am  at  present  well ;  and  though  often  in 
darkness  and  obscurity,  the  fruit  of  repeated  acts  of  disobe- 
dience, yet  secret  hopes  are  sometimes  revived  that  I  shall  see 
better  days  ;  I  stagger  and  reel,  but  am  yet  in  some  degree 
upheld. 

Dear  Joseph  Brown  is  often  inquiring  after  thee.  He 
comes  hither  sometimes,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  cultivate 


JETAT.  21.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


51 


a  friendship  with  sinceriljr,  wherever  it  appears  :  he  is  at  too 
great  a  distance  for  me  to  see  him  often  ;  otherwise,  his  inge- 
nuous freedom,  his  undesigning  simpHcity  and  love,  would  in- 
duce me  to  pay  him  frequent  visits.  An  acquaintance  with 
such  as  these,  when  they  stand  faithful,  are  powerful  monitors 
to  call  us  to  our  duty,  and  a  closer  attention  to  that  within. 

Of  late  I  am  favoured  with  the  acquaintance  of  a  friend,  who, 
next  to  dear  T.  A.,  has  made  the  most  considerable  progress 
heavenward  of  any  that  I  know,  nay,  seems  to  have  outstripped 
him;  the  most  unheard-of  oppression,  by  those  of  his  own  so- 
ciety, has  buried  him  hitherto  ;  but  the  Omnipotent  now  bids 
him  arise,  and  hath  arisen  with  him.  To  give  thee  his  whole 
history  would  require  a  book.  He  has  been  amongst  Friends, 
about  twelve  or  thirteen  years,  in  the  ministry  about  ten.  Re- 
fined by  the  severest  trials  and  hardships,  his  ministry  is  living, 
powerful,  and  efficacious  ;  to  the  most  solid  piety  is  joined  an 
extensive  knowledge  of  the  languages  and  the  mathematics, 
the  product  of  uncommon  industry  and  application  ;  his  ap- 
pearance is  rustic,  but  weighty  and  solid. 

I.  F. 

SARAH  ROUTH  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.* 

Manchester,  11th  Mo.,  15th,  1737. 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter  was  a  joy  and  a  help 
to  me,  because  I  am  satisfied  it  flowed  as  a  fresh  spring, 
in  degree,  from  the  one  fountain  of  all  fulness  and  goodness, 
to  which  I  beg  we  may  ever  be  favoured  with  having  free 
access  ;  and  I  am  encouraged  to  hope,  as  we  are  diligently 
concerned  to  keep  near,  and   follow  on  after  that  which 

*  Sarah  Rnuth,  afterwarrls  Sarah  Taylor,  was  an  eminent  and  deep- 
ly exercised  minister.  She  died  at  Manchester,  Sth  Mo.,  19th,  aged  74,  a 
minister  54  years. 


52 


Memoirs  and  letters 


[1737. 


hgth  visited,  and  cleansed,  and,  in  degree  made  us  sensible  of 
drinking,  as  at  the  living  spring,  w^e  shall  know  it  to  flow  in 
a  more  abundant  manner  in  our  hearts,  to  the  washing  away 
every  hurtful  thing,  and  yet  comfort  and  encourage  every  thing 
that  is  good  ;  for,  satisfied  I  am,  the  Lord  will  strip  us  of  no- 
thing the  keeping  whereof  would  be  of  any  real  advantage  to  us, 
except  it  be  for  the  trial  of  our  faith  ;  and  then,  if  we  free- 
ly resign  all,  the  will  will  be  accepted  for  the  deed. 

Let  us,  therefore,  dear  cousin,  be  encouraged  to  follow  stead- 
ily on  though  through  the  deeps,  and  in  the  greatest  denial  of 
self,  and  most  cross  to  our  own  wills  ;  yet  so  our  wills  may  be- 
come subject,  and  his  will  may  be  done  in  and  by  us  ;  but  this  is 
a  great  attainment,  and  hard  for  us  to  get  to,  and  yet  I  believe  it  is 
attainable.  May  we,  therefore,  press  after  it  more  and  more ;  and 
I  can  say,  my  heart  s  at  times  made  glad  in  the  remembrance  of 
thee,  and  I  find  my  s  irit  united  unto  thee,  in  true  love,  at  this 
time  ;  and  in  that  I  dearly  salute  thee,  and  wish  for  thee,  as  for 
myself,  that  no  storm  nor  cross  wind  may  ever  be  able  to  drive 
us  back,  but,  when  we  cannot  get  forward,  we  may  be  helped  to 
stand  still,  that  so  we  may  indeed  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord, 
and  may  have  cause  to  acknowledge  him  to  be  our  Saviour  and 
our  Redeemer  indeed;  and  that  because  he  lives  we  live  also, 
that  we  may  know  him  in  us  and  we  in  him,  our  life  being  bound 
up  and  hid  with  Christ  in  God ;  this  is  the  very  travail  of  thy 
real  friend  and  relation, 

Sarah  Routh, 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  12th  Mo.,  16th,  1737— 8. 

We  lately  were  favoured  with  a  letter  from  dear 
father,  dated  Philadelphia,  which  was  beyond  expression 
acceptable,  (however  to  me,)  as  being  filled  with  the  most 


^TAT.  22.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


53 


endearing  and  tender  expressions  of  an  afi'cctionate  parent, 
whose  soul  was  filled  and  warmed  with  Divine  love,  and  in  that, 
longs,  I  may  even  say  wrestles,  with  the  God  of  Heaven  for  a 
blesssing  upon  his  children,  and  in  the  most  moving  and  pathetic 
manner  labours  with  us,  his  offspring,  to  follow  holiness,  and 
tread  the  ways  of  God's  commandments  ;  and  in  tlie  remem- 
brance of  this  his  tender  regard,  and  likewise  some  sense  of 
the  love  of  the  Almighty  Father,  my  soul  is  often  drawn  into 
deep  reverence  before  him,  craving  earnestly  for  us,  the  de- 
scendants of  one  so  worthy  and  truly  honourable,  that  our  de- 
sires may  be  above  all  things  to  follow  him,  even  as  he  follows 
Christ;  and  that,  as  we  behold  an  eminently  supporting  hand 
near  and  with  him,  so  we,  by  an  humble,  careful  walking,  may 
know,  according  to  our  measures,  the  same  power  to  preserve 
and  uphold  us  in  well  doing,  and  a  steady  perseverance  to  the 
end,  which  my  soul  longs  may  be  our  chief  care,  since  it  must 
be  the  end  which  crowns  all,  and  the  Lord  alone  is  able  to  pre- 
serve it. 

S.  F. 

ALICE  ROUTH  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Hawesj  2nd  Mo.,  24th,  1738. 

 Do  not  think  that  thou  art  either  forgotten  of  God 

or  of  thy  friends,  for  thou  art  near  to  my  life;  O  !  that  we  may 
so  steer  through  this  vale  of  tears,  that  when  time  here  shall 
be  over,  we  may  meet  in  that  mansion  of  glory  that  is  prepared 
for  the  righteous  :  for  many  are  their  exercises  and  besetments  ; 
they  are  at  times  even  like  the  lone  sparrow  upon  the  house 
top,  or  the  quail  in  the  stubble  field.  How  are  we  pursued  by 
the  enemy  of  our  souls,  so  that  I  have  been  ready  to  say, — 
How  Can  I  go  any  further?  and  have  said  with  David — My 
way  is  enclosed  with  hewn  stones,  that  I  cannot  get  out.  0, 
let  us  trust  in  Him  who  multiplied  the  widow's  oil  and  the  little 


54 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS,  &C. 


[1738. 


meal  in  llie  barrel.  This  halh  done  me  good,  when  I  have 
rightly  considered  it ;  for  it  was  a  time  of  favour  when  the  pro- 
phet came  to  her,  and  bade  her  first  make  him  a  cake,  and  then 
one  for  herself,  for  she  thought  of  eating  it  and  dying.  I  would 
not  have  thee  be  discouraged,  though  it  may  be  a  low  time  with 
thee ;  that  little  will  keep  alive,  until  the  pure  rain  be  distilled 
again. 

So  in  that  pure  love  that  I  feel  to  flow  to  thee,  I  bid  thee 
farewell. 

Alice  Routh. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


John  Fothergill,  after  landing  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  6lh 
month,  1736,  continued  diligently  engaged  in  religious  service 
amongst  Friends  and  others  in  America. 

When  the  intelligence  reached  him  of  some  reformation  in 
his  son  Samuel,  and  that  the  change  he  so  earnestly  desired, 
and  for  which  he  had  often  prayed,  was  really  begun  in  him, 
and  some  progress  made  towards  a  religious  life,  it  filled  his 
heart  with  gratitude  and  thankfulness  for  this  his  erring  son  ; 
yet  hope  was  mingled  with  fear,  and  he  rejoiced  with  trembling, 
as  some  of  the  following  letters  indicate. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  . 

(No  date.) 

 As  to  son  Samuel,  I  have  been  almost  unex- 
pectedly quiet  in  my  spirit  about  him  ;  knowing,  however,  I  had 
honestly  discharged  myself  to  the  utmost  of  my  understanding; 
yet  I  have  heard  from  several  of  an  appearance  of  a  religious 
mind  and  application  being  hopeful  to  prevail  with  him  to  a 
reformation,  to  the  comfort  of  those  that  rightly  love  him  ; 
which,  to  be  sure,  is  as  much  desired  by  me  as  is  necessary, 
I  believe,  and  affords  some  comfort  to  me  ;  but  he  hath  mani- 
fested so  much  instability  in  good  intents,  and  I  do  believe  reso- 
lutions, and  an  aptness  to  show,  at  some  times,  which  hath  not 
either  been  in  reality,  or  he  hath  not  brought  forth  fruit  agreeable 
to  expectation,  which  still  induceth  me  to  a  cautiousness  in 
rejoicing  ;  though  I  believe  the  fan  and  the  axe  of  truth  are  well 
able  to  cut  down  and  purge  away  both  sin  and  hurtful  propen- 


56 


MEMOIRS    AND  LETTERS 


[1737. 


sities,  and  make  sound  ;  for  wliich  sure  experience,  I,  with  the 
earnestness  of  a  nearly  affectionate  father  to  my  own  flesh, 
and  intreaty  of  a  sincere  friend,  do  tenderly  long  and  advise 
him  to  a  humble  and  steady  waiting  for ;  that  true  judgment 
may  be  repeated  and  attended  to,  and  so  feel  from  time  to  time 
which  will  bring  forth  fruits  of  steady  humility  and  love  to  in- 
wardness ;  and  yet  I  hope  Divine  good  may  make  him  a  living 
monument  of  mercy,  and  of  a  right  returning.  0  that  this  may 
be  his  experience,  and  gracious  issue,  to  Heaven's  glory  and 
his  salvation.    Amen,  Amen. 

I  am,  in  love  and  care  beyond  what  I  can  express,  poor  son 
Samuel,  thy  nearly  well-wishing  father, 

J.  F. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  JOSEPH. 

Philadelphia,  9th  Mo.,  12th,  1737. 
My  beloved  Son  Joseph, 

I  am  desirous  to  manifest  my  regardful  remem- 
brance of  thee  and  thy  dear  wife  by  a  few  hues  once  more, 
wherewith  rcacheth  near  and  true  love,  and  strong  well- 
wishing  in  every  respect,  which  is  very  much  in  my  heart 
for  you,  and  chiefly  that  in,  and  through,  and  above  all 
pursuits,  true  godliness  and  favour  with  the  all-seeing  and 
Almighty  pure  God  may  be  your  chiefest  ;  and  with  the  most 
watchful  diligence,  and  which,  as  you  honestly  and  patiently 
seek,  you  will  often  be  comforted  and  engaged  in  heart, 
in  finding  Divine  regard  to  your  souls,  renewing,  reverent 
trust  in,  and  fear  before  Him,  who  knows  and  can  do  all 
things,  from  whose  hand  every  good  gift  comes ;  and  I  am 
often  much  satisfied  that  the  gracious  eye  of  this  mighty 
Being  hath  been  and  is  towards  you  for  good,  and  to  make 
you  of  some  worth  and  service  in  that  place  ;  wherefore, 
neglect  not  to  seek  the  love  and  sense  of  Divine  favour  in 


jETAT.  21.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


57 


your  own  hearts,  and  licavenly  mercy  and  sanctifying  life  will 
brighten,  feed,  and  teach  you  in  righteousness.  My  love  and 
care  is  pure  and  strong  towards  you,  not  forgetting  poor  Samuel, 
who  should  walk  as  a  brand  plucked  (in  unutterable  mercy) 
out  of  the  fire  of  destruction,  which,  if  he  retain  the  sense  of  in 
heart  duly,  every  part  of  his  conduct  will  be  adorned  with  fruit 
which  will  be  beautiful  in  the  eyes  of  God  and  man,  and  be  a 
living  monument  of  the  effects  of  Divine  power  as  it  is  turned 
unto.  Oh  that  thus,  immortal  help  and  gracious  goodness  may 
prevail  with,  sanctify,  and  bless  you,  my  truly-beloved  and 
nearly  cared  for  children  ! 

9  Mo.,  14.  Dear  Joseph — This  morning  thine  with  others 
is  come  to  hand,  the  contents  whereof  enliven  my  hope  in  the 
God  of  all  mercies,  on  your  account,  with  reviving  comfort  to 
my  careful  soul  for  your  best  good  ;  for  in  my  longing  for  you, 
and  thee  and  thine  in  particular,  I  have  h.ad  a  sure  evidence  of 
Almighty  regard  and  desire  to  bless,  and  help  you  to  serve  him  ; 
but  am  also  assured  that  he  requires  that  you  should  stand  in 
awe  before  him,  and  seek  his  face  and  the  feeling  of  his  power, 
to  season,  govern,  and  redeem  the  mind,  and  beautify  the 
conduct ;  that  he  may  delight  to  work  for  and  let  forth  his  love 
and  fatherly  goodness  to  you.  And  to  be  sure,  what  I  hear, 
of  and  from  Samuel,  is  as  comfortable  as  can  be  expected  to  an 
affectionate  and  heretofore  deeply  afflicted  father.  Yet,  I 
rejoice  not  without  awe  and  fear,  though  with  lively  hope,  as  he 
keeps  duly  mindful  of  his  imworthiness,  and  under  watchful 
fear  lest  any  thing  that  is  for  judgment  should  escape  ;  and  to 
be  duly  assured  of  God's  own  putting  forth  from  time  to  time ; 
which  care  brings  to  a  careful  desire  after  pure  stillness  in 
waiting,  and  so  to  heavenly  salvation,  and  clear  understanding 
of  the  Divine  goings  forth  ;  and  I  hope  all-sufficient  help  will 
be  with  you  all ;  so  be  it.  Amen. 

9  J.  F. 


58 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1737. 


JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  . 

Philadelphia,  1737. 

 Let  my  heretofore  strongly-pressed  caution, 

M'hich  I  do  not  yet  get  clear  from  at  all  times,  doubting  the 
danger  of  its  being  not  enough  minded — which  is  to  be  aware 
of  that  devilish,  bewitching,  darkening,  ruinous,  enticing  snare 
of  often  sipping  and  dabbling  with  strong  drink,  and  the  com- 
pany that  loves  and  useth  it,  and  seldom  without  unprofitable 
conversation,  though  craftily,  from  that  twisting,  serpentine, 
adulterating  spirit  of  this  world,  frequently  excused  and  pleaded 
for,  under  artful  disguises,  to  deceive  the  unwary.  There- 
fore look  at  it  in  time,  as  an  enemy  to  body  and  mind,  to  pre- 
sent and  future  interest ;  or  else  heaven  will  assuredly  turn 
its  back  upon  thee,  and  the  earth  will  become  as  iron,  and 
the  bowels  of  thy  true  friends  will  be  shut  up;— and  what 
can  follow  then  ? 

I  lay  weight  upon  it,  as  I  am  sure  it  is  an  infernal,  and 
(as  much  as  Satan  can  make  it)  a  hidden  snare  ;  yet,  I  would 
strongly  hope  necessity  for  this  may  not  be  much ;  but  my 
love  and  true  care  is  a  just  excuse  for  me  herein.  May  the 
love  of  righteousness  and  best  riches  win  and  guide  thy  heart 
and  views,  and  the  God  of  all  goodness  will  be  thy  God  and 
sure  helper  to  blessedness  indeed. 

J.  F. 

This  visit  to  America  occupied  John  Fothergill  nearly 
two  years.  In  the  course  of  it  he  attended  several  of  the 
yearly  meetings,  and  says — "  On  the  9lh  of  4th  Mo.,  1737, 
"  the  yearly  meeting  began  at  Portsmouth,  [Rhode  Island,] 
"  and  a  large  precious  meeting  it  was  ;  I  returned  to  New- 
"  port,  where  the  yearly  meeting  continued,  and  held  four 
"  days,  the  assembly  being  large  and  peaceable,  and  at 
"  times  comfortable  in  the  arisings   of  the  mighty  power 


jETat.  21.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


59 


"  and  love  of  God,  who  had  the  glory  and  the  praise."   

"  On  the  24lh  the  yearly  meeting  began  at  Nantucket,  it  was 
"  large,  and  conliimed  four  days,  to  true  satisfaction,  and  the 
"  name  of  the  Lord  was  glorified." 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  JOHN. 

Philadelphia,  7th  Mo.,  1737. 

 "  As  to  myself,  I  am  somewhat  miraculously 

"  supported,  as  a  creature,  and  am  in  good  health  pretty  gene- 
"  rally.  The  yearly  meeting  at  this  place  ended  last  night ;  it 
"  was  exceedingly  large,  and,  upon  the  whole,  generally  acknow- 
"  ledged  to  have  been  very  edifying,  strongly  good  and  helpful 
"  divers  ways,  and  very  much  to  my  ease  and  humbling  glad- 
"  ness  in  the  Lord  our  God,  and  never  failing  helper;  and 
"  Friends,  in  general,  are  in  a  good  degree  of  harmony. 

"  My  heart  is  nearly  affected  with  the  best  of  love  towards 
"  thee  and  for  thee,  that  nothing  short  of  rain  from  the  Divine 
"  presence  may  satisfy  thee,  for  this  is  what  only  prepares  the 
"  most  acceptable  sacrifice,  a  hroken  and  contrite  spirit, 
"  wherein  is  true  light  and  durable  joy.  Thus  fai'ewell,  fare- 
"  well,  saith  thy  nearly  affectionate  father,  to  the  best  of  my 
"  capacity,  in  every  respect,  which  I  hope  thou  art  and  often 
"  will  be  sensible  of. 

J.  F. 

Of  the  conclusion  of  his  labour  in  America  he  has  left 
the  following  account:  — "I  had  a  blessed  meeting  with 
"  Friends,  at  Pilesgrove,  and  the  next  day  was  at  a  general 
meeting,  at  Haddonfield,  wherein  the  Lord  our  God 
"  graciously  owned  us,  and  blessed  our  meeting ;  giving  us 
"  to  part  one  from  another  in  a  living  sense  of  his  love  and 
"  power ;  and  his  glorious  name  was  worshipped  and 
"  praised.  I  came  the  day  following  to  Philadelphia,  where 
"I  stayed  until  the  8th  of  the  10th  month,  and  had  divers 


60 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1733. 


"great  and  heavenly  meetings  ;  and  after  a  very  open  and  solidly 
"edifying  meeting,  I  took  leave  of  friends  there,  in  much  true 
"  love  and  nearness  in  spirit,  and  heavenly  unity  in  the  Lord." 

Soon  after  this  he  took  passage  for  Barbadoes,  and  from  that 
island  he  wrote  to  one  of  his  sons,  as  follows  : — 

Barbadoes,  11th  Mo.,  27th,  1738. 

 "  I  was  brought  hither  well,  in  32  days  from 

"  Philadelphia,  yet  do  not  find  myself  free  to  leave  the  place, 
"  yet  write  to  inform  thee,  that  I  am  thus  far  on  my  way,  and 

"  easy  in  the  hope  and  sense  of  llie  Father's  favour  

"  Probably  no  other  [vessel]  will  sail  for  England  in  less  than 
"  two  months,  which  is  somewhat  hard  for  me  to  think  of,  both 
"  in  respect  to  the  unpleasantness  of  the  place,  from  the  extreme 
"  heats,  the  small  number  of  Friends,  and  the  general  remote- 

"  ness  of  the  inhabitants  from  religion  Though  I  am 

"  easy  in  resignation  to  all-wise  disposal,  and  full  of  thankful- 
"  ness,  under  the  bending  sense  of  gracious  and  strong  extend- 
"  ings  of  divine  good-will  to  many  of  the  remote ;  and  of 
"  fatherly  succouring  encouragement  to  the  few  spiritually 

"  minded  here  May  rain  from  heaven  bedew  thy  soul 

"  and  understanding,  and  cherish  and  revive  the  Lord's  heritage 
"  everywhere." 

J.  F. 

Barbadoes,  2d  Mo.,  12th,  1738. 

 "  In  the  long  absence  which  wisdom  hath 

"  seen  good  to  order,  I  am,  for  that  reason,  humbly  cheerful 
"  in  reverent  hope ;  and  for  the  present  we  must  submit  to 

"  be  yet  longer  separated  than  I   expected  I  hope 

"  never  to  forget  the  merciful  nearness  and  goodness  of 


^TAT.  22.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


61 


"  Truth  to  me  here  ;  both  in  affording  the  renewed  sense  of 
"  heavenly  hfe,  and  in  preserving  my  health. — I  cannot  well 
' '  add  much,  nor  is  much  more  in  my  thoughts  at  present ;  but 
"  I  may  say  that  though  this  is  a  poor  irreligious  place,  yet  both 
"  many  of  the  people,  and  the  few  Friends  here,  are  very  loving 
"  and  respectful ;  and  I  hope  I  shall  leave  the  place  with  in- 
"  ward  ease  to  myself  and  reputation  to  truth.  From  thy  truly 
"  loving  father,  J.  F. 

Having  been  engaged  in  the  island  of  Barbadoes  for  about 
three  months,  he  embarked  in  a  vessel  bound  for  Lancaster, 
and  arrived  there  on  the  1st  of  the  4th  Month,  1738.  He  thus 
writes  respecting  the  voyage  :  "  We  had  a  passage  of  six 
"  weeks  between  land  and  land,  but  through  very  rough  hard 
"  weather  ;  but  I  was  preserved  quiet,  inwardly  easy,  and 
"  steady  in  hope.  I  am  pretty  well  in  health,  as  well  as  easy 
"  and  sweet  in  spirit ;  worship  and  praise  be  to  the  holy  author 
"  of  all  good." 

From  Lancaster  he  proceeded  direct  to  his  own  habitation  in 
Netherdale,  Yorkshire,  where  he  was  joyfully  received  by  his 
family  and  friends,  with  humble  gratitude  and  reverence  to  that 
Divine  power  which  had,  through  all,  preserved  and  restored 
him  to  his  native  land. 


CHAPTER  V. 


Having  largely  witnessed  in  himself  llie  redeeming  power 
and  efficacy  of  Divine  grace,  and  known  the  remission  of  past 
sins,  and  justification  by  faith,  through  our  Lord  and  Savioijr 
Jesus  Christ,  Samuel  Fothergill,  very  early  after  his  own 
remarkable  conversion,  felt  powerfully  called  upon  to  commu- 
nicate to  others  the  gracious  dealings  of  the  Lord  with  his 
soul ;  to  tell  them  of  his  feelings — of  what  he  had  so  eminently 
known  of  the  power  and  goodness  of  God,  and  to  incite  them 
also,  to  strive  after  a  participation  in  the  same  blessed  ex- 
perience. 

Under  this  Divine  and  powerful  impulse,  and  having  passed 
through  a  preparation  for  the  work,  he  came  forth  in  the 
ministry  of  the  Gospel,  exercising  the  gift  he  had  therein 
received,  in  humility  and  much  fear ;  but  abiding  steadfast 
and  faithful,  this  gift  was  enlarged  ;  his  growth  in  the  ministry 
was  rapid,  and  he  became  an  eminent  and  favoured  servant. 

The  precise  period  at  which  he  first  appeared  as  a  minister 
cannot  now  be  ascertained  ;  it  is  said  to  have  been  on  the  same 
day  that  his  letter  to  the  monthly  meeting  was  read  in  that 
assembly.  There  are  some  circumstances  which  render  it 
probable  that  it  took  place  about  the  time  that  he  attained 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  being  near  the  close  of  the 
year  1736. 

The  present  practice  of  the  Society,  of  taking  into  distinct 
consideration  the  ministry  of  those  friends  who  feel  engaged 
so  to  appear  in  our  religious  meetings,  was  not  introduced 
until  several  years  after  this  period,  and  there  is  not  any 
minute  of  Hardshaw  monthly  meeting  distinctly  recording 
him  as  a  minister.    The  first  time  that  his  name  occurs  in 


iETAT.  22.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


G3 


tlic  records  of  that  meeting,  is  in  the  fourth  month  of  1737, 
where  he  appears  as  a  representative  from  Pcnketh  preparative 
meeting,  (of  which  Warrington  is  a  branch,)  and  he  was  at 
the  same  time  appointed  to  attend  the  quarterly  meeting  (for 
sufferings)  at  Lancaster. 

The  first  occasion  upon  which  a  certificate  was  granted  him 
to  travel  as  a  minister  was  in  the  first  month  of  1739.  He 
had,  however,  some  time  previously  to  this,  visited  a  few  meet- 
ings in  Cheshire,  along  with  his  relation,  Lawrence  Callan,  of 
Sankey.  And  about  the  same  time  Susanna  Croudson  had 
also  been  engaged,  with  certificate,  on  a  religious  vi  sit  to 
Friends  of  Bristol  and  that  neisrhbourhood.  The  foUowina;  let- 
ters  relate  to  these  engagements. 

SUSANNA  CROUDSON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Worcester,  6th  Mo.,  16,  1737. 

 I  have  felt  the  weicrht  of  the  burden  to  be 

very  heavy  upon  me,  and  none  to  help,  but  the  Great  Master  in 
his  own  time.  I  have  been  left  to  see  my  own  poverty  and 
weakness,  and  have  often  looked  back  at  my  coming  out;  yea, 
I  have  often  desired  in  secret  to  know  whether  I  should  go 
forward  or  turn  back,  being  willing  to  do  anything,  so  that  I 
might  but  be  in  my  place,  however  foolish  I  might  appear  in 
the  sight  of  men. 

 Remember  me  when  it  is  well  with  thee,  for  I  have 

need  of  the  help  of  my  friends. 

Susanna  Cro  ^son. 

SUSANNA  CROUDSON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Bristol,  6lh  Mo.,  27th,  1737. 

Thine  was  very  acceptable,  and  came  in  a  needful 
time,  when  I  was  very  low  ;  yet  I  have  got  a  liule  faith  and 
strength  since  I  last  wrote  to  thee,  and  something  of  inward  peace 
of  mind,  and  a  sight  of  my  duty,  and  a  sweet  belief  that  I  am 


64 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1738. 


in  my  place,  which  is  enough,  and  makes  my  journey  as  a  home 
to  me.  I  beheve  thou  hadst  failh  for  me,  when  I  had  none 
for  myself;  but  I  believe  I  am  not  alone  in  this,  for  many  in 
this  day  bear  weights  and  burdens  because  of  the  careless  and 
lukewarm  ;  and  I  believe  it  is  good  for  us  all  to  see  our  weak- 
ness sometimes,  that  we  may  know  that  we  have  no  might  of 
our  own,  and  may  be  willing  to  seek  for  help,  that  we  do  not 
grow  lukewarm. 

Susanna  Croudson. 

SUSANNA  CROUDSON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL, 

Wan-ington,  1738. 

Thou  art  often  in  my  thoughts,  yet  not  with  any 
heaviness,  though  I  was  much  so  when  I  parted  with  thee  ; 
yet  as  soon  as  thou  wast  gone,  a  secret  satisfaction  was 
raised  in  my  mind  that  thou  wast  in  thy  place,  and  belter 
than  if  thou  wast  at  home ;  and  tfie  same  still  remains 
with  me,  which  pretty  much  makes  up  the  loss  of  thy 
company. 

Now,  my  dear  friend,  however  weak  thou  mayest  seem 
to  thyself,  or  whatever  troublesome,  discouraging  thoughts 
may  present  themselves  before  thee,  do  thy  endeav- 
our to  look  over  them  all  to  thy  present  business,  for  I 
believe  thou  art  in  thy  place,  and  am  in  hopes  thou  wilt 
get  to  the  same  faith  ;  though  1  know  many  are  the  discou- 
ragements that  fall  in  the  way  of  poor  travellers,  yet  I 
believe  thou  wilt  be  helped  through,  and  have  the  return 
of  peace.  I  speak  in  a  feeling  sense  of  the  renewed  good- 
ness near  to  the  relief  of  the  poor  and  helpless  that  have 
no  might  of  their  own ;  my  heart  is  filled  with  sympathising 
encouragement  towards  thee,  more  than  I  can  write  at  this 
time. 

Susanna  Croudson. 


^TAT.  22.] 


OF  SA.MUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


65 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  SUSANNA  CROUDSON. 

Middlewich,  1738. 

 Thy  letter  was  not  only  pleasing,  but  very 

encouraging  and  helpful,  and  came  in  a  needful  time,  for  the 
burden  of  the  work  seems  to  be  still  more  and  more  weighty, 
and  myself  poor  and  weak  ;  yet  as  I  am  carefully  concerned  to 
wait  for  the  renewinirs  of  help  and  strength,  I  sometimes  expe- 
rience a  gladness  and  satisfaction  of  mind  that  I  am  come  out, 
and  have  made  this  small  visit  thus  far,  and  I  cannot  say,  (not- 
withstanding I  am  often  very  low  and  heavy,)  that  I  have  occa- 
sion to  reflect  on  my  leaving  home  in  the  least  degree. 

Thou  art  a  frequent  companion  of  my  thoughts,  yet  the  near- 
est enjoyment  of  each  other  is  to  be  known  in  the  life,  in  the 
drawings  of  our  souls  towards  God,  and  in  a  secret  access  to 
his  Divine  presence.  Oh,  I  have  found  great  occasion  for  fre- 
quent inwardness  and  retired  breathing  earnestly  after  the  filler 
of  the  hearts  of  his  people  :  my  heart  is  open  towards  thee  in 
the  nearest  and  tenderest  of  affections,  and  therefore  lets  my 
pen  run  thus.  Cousin  Law.  Callan  came  yesterday,  and  wc 
think  to  be  at  Nantwich  to-morrow. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  SUSANNA  CROUDSON. 

Chester,  3d  Mo.  2d,  1738. 
Through  mercy  I  am  well  as  to  my  health,  and  my 
mind  quiet  and  easy  in  a  confirmed  sense  that  I  am  in  the 
discharge  of  my  duty,  which  greatly  helps  and  encourages, 
in  hopes  that  he  who  has  made  me  willing  to  leave  home,  in 
obedience  to  his  call,  will  support  me  to  answer  his  requirings. 
I  am  not  doubting  his  helping  hand,  knowing  that  he  never 
requires  anything  from  his  children  but  he  enables  them  to  its 
performance.  Peter  Leadbeater  went  with  me  to  Wrexham 
10 


66        .  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1738. 

on  first  day,  when  we  had  a  satisfactory  meeting  :  there  are  a 
very  few  Friends,  but  pretty  many  that  are  not  of  our  name — 
a  rehgious,  quiet  people. 

S.  F. 

From  this  correspondence  it  will  be  seen  that  the  friendship 
between  Samuel  Fothergill  and  Susanna  Croudson  still 
continued.  It  had  its  origin  in  the  sympathy  she  manifested, 
and  the  care  with  which  she  watched  over  and  encouraged  in 
him  the  early  symptoms  of  his  repentance  and  desires  after  a 
religious  life  ;  their  mutual  friendship  grew  with  the  growth  of 
these  feelings  in  his  mind  ;  it  was  matured  into  a  near  and  ten- 
der regard  for  each  other,  and  on  the  1st  of  the  6lh  month,  1738, 
they  were  united  in  marriage. 

She  was  the  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Croudson,  of 
Warrington,  Friends  of  good  repute,  and  well  esteemed. 

The  union  thus  formed,  based  upon  the  sm.-est  foundation, 
proved  a  happy  one.  They  lived  together  in  true  harmony  and 
religious  fellowship,  being  helpers  to  each  other  in  their  various 
religious  exercises  and  engagements  ;  she  cheerfully  setting  him 
at  liberty,  and  encouarging  him  in  the  many  services  to  which 
he  was  so  frequently  called. 

The  following  letters  may  be  suitably  introduced  in  this 
place. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  SAMUEL. 

Netherdale,  8th  Mo.  1st,  1738. 

 I  am  glad  to  hear  of  your  health,  and  also  of  [your] 

hope  to  live  :  the  latter  I  doubt  not,  either  with  respect  to  here  or 
hereafter,  if  honest,  steady  regard,  in  due  attention  for  best  suc- 
cour and  light,  be  but»kept  to  with  patience  and  content  to  be 
little  ;  if  but  renewed  in  life  and  in  merciful  access,  and  in  due  re- 
tnembrance  of  the  child's  state,  and  thy  station  is  but  such  com- 
paratively ;  always  keeping  a  care  distinctly  to  discern  between 
what  would  seek  something  to  self,  and  that  which  only  seeks  to 


jBTAT.  22.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


67 


know  and  to  do  the  Heavenly  Father's  will  for  his  glory  only 
Oh,  that  we  all  may  purely  mind  this ! 

I  have  little  to  add  further,  but  am  earnest  and  tender  in  true 
longing  for  your  right  thriving  and  preservation  in  the  way  of 
wisdom  in  every  respect,  and  salute  you  both  in  a  sense  of  best 
love :  your  truly  loving  and  careful  Father, 

John  Fothergill. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

London,  8th  Mo.,  20th,  1738. 

 A  few  days  ago  I  was  plunged  very  low ;  a 

view  of  my  present  situation,  and  the  disagreeable  prospect  of 
my  future  circumstances,  were  so  heavy  that  I  knew  not  how  to 
bear  them  ;  however,  they  have,  by  degrees,  abated,  and  now  I 
am  not  sorry  it  was  so.  O,  may  my  dependence  be  increased, 
may  every  scheme  be  destroyed,  if  its  consequence  should  be 
to  take  off  my  regard  from  the  Sovereign  dispenser  of  all  good. 
May  the  assistance  afforded  be  deeply  impressed  on  our  minds, 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  produce  thankful  reverence  and  gratitude, 
only  to  be  ended  with  our  existence. 

I  was  last  night  at  a  large  meeting  which  is  held  here  quar- 
terly, under  the  name  of  the  Young  Folks'  Evening  Meeting. 
I  was  pleased  to  see  a  very  numerous  appearance  of  very  prom- 
ising young  Friends  of  both  sexes ;  several  testimonies  were 
delivered  by  some  that  have  lately  appeared  in  public :  they 
seemed  to  be  influenced  with  love  and  zeal ;  and  it  afforded  sat- 
isfaction tome  when  I  considered  that  it  was  possible  sorre  of 
these  young  heroes  might  one  day  stand  as  bulwarks  against  the 
general  corruption  and  degeneracy  among  us,  in  the  places  of 
their  deceased  worthy  elders  and  fathers.  They  had  to  tell  us 
that  better  days  were  coming,  that  mercy  was  afresh  extended > 
that  Zion  yet  should  shine  more  brightly.  O,  thrice  happy  those 
who  live  so  near  the  centre  of  peace,  as  to  be  ready,  when  the 


68 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1738. 


alarm  is  given,  to  follow  wherever  the  standard  is  fixed.  I  have 
sent  thee  a  copy  or  two  of  Anthony  Purver's  verses,  and  a  little 
book  lately  published  by  John  Fry  ;*  the  poetry  is  low,  but  the 
maxims  deserve  regard. 

I  can  only  now  desire  this  for  thee  and  myself,  that  our  dear 
father's  example  and  precepts  may  insinuate  themselves  into  our 
minds  so  far  as  to  influence  us  to  act,  to  speak,  and  even  to 
think,  as  it  becomes  persons  favoured  in  such  an  extraordinary 
manner.  Dear  sister,  cease  not  to  strive,  though  discour- 
agements may  too  much  prevail ;  may  happiness  attend  thee. 
Farewell. 

I.  F, 


PETER  LEADBEATERt  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Chester,  11th  Mo.,  18th,  17.38. 

I  may  say  thou  art  daily  and  almost  hourly  in  my  re- 
membrance since  we  parted,  with  ardent  desires  that  we  may 
be  preserved  faithful  in  answering  the  end  of  our  vocation  where- 
unto  we  are  called,  that  the  hope  thereof  may  not  be  in  vain  ; 
therefore,  let  us  daily  eye  Him  who  hath  called  us  unto  holiness, 
and  will  perfect  the  same  to  his  praise  and  our  everlasting  com- 
fort, if  we  keep  under  the  guidance  of  his  Holy  Spirit ;  which 
as  we  co-operate  with  it,  will  complete  our  sanctification  through- 
out, in  body  and  soul,  and  spirit.  My  soul  is  often  deeply 
bowed  under  a  sense  of  my  own  weakness  and  inability,  and 
am  ready  to  fear  lest  one  day  or  other  I  should  fall  by  the 

*  Of  Sutton  Benger,  Wilts. 

f  Peter  Leadbeater  was  a  minister,  and  well  esteemed  in  his  day.  He  is 
spoken  of  as  being — "  serviceable  in  his  tender  and  seasonable  advice  : 
"and  also  being  of  a  good  capacity,  and  clear  understanding,  helpful  in 
"  the  management  of  the  discipline  of  the  Church,  an  encourager  of  the 
"youth,  to  draw  them  into  service  in  the  Society."  He  died  at  Chester, 
on  the  13th  of  7th  Month,  1751,  aged  58  ;  a  minister  about  43  years. 


I 


^TAT.  23.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  69 

hand  of  my  soul's  enemy,  who  is  not  wanting  to  use  his 
utmost  endeavours,  if  possible,  to  lay  waste  and  destroy,  by 
his  suitable  devices,  that  work  which  God  in  his  infinite 
mercy  hath  begun  ;  may  he  be  frustrated  in  every  attempt, 
is  what  I  earnestly  pray  for.  Oh  !  dear  heart,  when  thou 
art  divinely  favoured,  let  me  not  be  wholly  out  of  thy 
remembrance  ;  as  we  keep  near  the  Lord,  we  shall  be  near 
and  dear  one  to  another  in  him,  and  be  as  epistles  written 
in  one  another's  hearts,  sympathising  in  one  another's  adversity, 
as  well  as  partaking  of  each  other's  joy  in  prosperity.  I 
was  often  truly  thankful,  since  the  last  meeting  we  had,  that 
my  head  was  borne  up  above  the  waters  of  affliction  which 
were  ready  to  pass  over  the  same  ;  may  the  same  arm  of 
power  still  be  underneath,  to  support  unto  the  end  through 
whatever  I  may  yet  have  to  pass,  in  which  I  will  put  my 
confidence.  0,  Lord,  let  me  never  be  confounded.  Thy  truly 
sorrowful  and  afflicted  brother  and  companion, 

Peter  Leadbeater. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  SAMUJa  FOTHERGILL, 

London,  12th  Mo.,  21st,  1738. 

I  had  an  entire  satisfaction  in  reading  thine,  though  I 
don't  overlook  a  passage  in  this,  as  well  as  some  others  of  thine, 
which  insinuates  that  I  expect  rhetorical  flourishes,  and  brilliant 
expressions,  but  it  is  not  so.  I  love  sincerity  in  the  plainest 
dress  ;  I  dislike  affectation  of  any  kind,  when  I  see  it,  whether 
in  myself  or  others  ;  and  when,  in  writing  to  one  another  or 
speaking,  we  join  words  together  with  an  intention  of  conceal- 
ing our  real  sentiments,  or  to  give  an  idea  of  ourselves  which 
we  are  not,  we  forsake  the  plain  language  indeed  ;  if  this 
happens  to  have  been  the  case  in  those  which  I  have  written, 
I  acknowledge  myself  guilty  of  using  a  manner  of  speech  which 
the  Spirit  of  truth  has  declared  against,  and  for  the  future  will 
attempt  to  forsake  and  amend. 


I 


70 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1738. 


Thy  affectionate  concern  for  my  welfare  was  doubly  grate- 
ful ;  I  wish  I  could  give  ihee  the  like  satisfaction,  by  returning 
such  an  answer  as  I  know  would  be  acceptable,  but  alas,  I 
cannot  ;  none  but  myself  knows  what  I  feel. 

  I  sometimes  resolve  with  myself  to  abandon  all  my 

designs,  and  endeavour  to  live  to  none  but  my  Creator ;  and 
presently,  my  condition  in  this  life  appears  in  my  view,  and 
that  part  which  regards  only  the  present  too  often  prevails,  and 
here  I  waste  and  decline  ;  I  see  it,  I  feel  it,  yet  I  almost  des- 
pair of  ever  being  able  to  resolve  on  amendment.  Thou  knowest 
these  bitter  scenes,  but  hast  had  courage  enough  to  give  up, 
and  become  nothing  for  his  sake.  I  every  day  see  the  happy 
consequences  of  such  a  conduct,  but  video  meliora  prohoque 
deteriora  seqiior.  Here  is  my  condition,  without  disguise  ; 
'tis  easy  to  say  more,  but  thou  knowest  by  this  the  rest ;  but 
what  can  be  said  to  a  person,  who  is  conscious  how  much  it 
would  be  his  interest,  his  eternal  interest,  how  much  it  would 
rejoice  the  heart  of  the  tenderest  of  fathers,  to  see  a  progress 
made  in  the  internal  life,  how  much  it  would  also  rejoice  his 
relations,  his  friends,  and  all  the  good  of  his  acquaintance,  yet 
is  cowardly  enough  to  give  up  to  the  tempter.  I  often  reproach 
myself,  I  can  suffer  it  in  some  measure  and  at  some  times  from 
others,  knowing  how  much  I  deserve  it.  I  am  not  solicitous  of 
hiding  my  case  from  those,  who,  knowing  the  weakness  of 
human  nature,  can  pity  the  failures  and  lament  the  unhappy 
condition  of  the  person. 

The  anxious  pressure  I  feel,  perhaps,  makes  my  expressions 
not  guarded ;  I  write  to  a  brother  whose  assistance  I  am  far 
from  rejecting  ;  let  me  hear  from  thee  as  soon  as  thou  hast 
freedom. 

I.  F. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  John  Fothergill  from  his  last 
visit  to  America,  he  went  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  at  York, 
which  was  large,   and  attended  by  many   Friends  from 


iETAT.  22.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


71 


different  parts  of  the  nation.  His  company  was  very  accepta- 
ble ;  and  the  occasion  was,  in  a  peculiar  degree,  solemn  and 
instructive. 

Here  he  met  his  son  Samuel.  Tradition  lias  handed  down 
(and  there  is  no  other  record  of  it)  a  remarkable  circumstance 
connected  with  this,  their  first  interview,  since  the  return  of  the 
father  to  England.  It  is  said  that,  from  some  accidental  cir- 
cumstance, John  Fothergill  did  not  arrive  in  York  until  the 
morning  of  the  day  of  the  meeting,  and  that  it  was  late  when  he 
entered  the  meeting-house  :  after  a  short  period  of  silence  he 
stood  up,  and  appeared  in  testimony  ;  but  after  he  had  pro- 
ceeded a  short  time,  he  stopped,  and  informed  the  meeting 
that  his  way  was  closed  ;  that  what  he  had  before  him  was 
taken  away,  and  was,  he  believed,  given  to  another.  He 
resumed  his  seat,  and  another  Friend  immediately  rose,  and 
taking  up  the  subject,  enlarged  upon  it  in  a  weighty  and  impres- 
sive testimony,  delivered  with  great  power.  It  is  added,  that 
at  the  close  of  the  meeting  John  Fothergill  inquired  who  the 
Friend  was  that  had  been  so  remarkably  engaged  amongst 
them,  and  was  informed  that  it  was  his  own  son  Samuel ! 

Their  thus  meeting  together,  under  circumstances  so  differ- 
ent to  those  in  which  their  last  memorable  interview  had  taken 
place,  previous  to  John  Fothergill's  departure  from  England, 
was  peculiarly  moving  and  affecting  to  them  both.  The  son 
thenin  a  state  of  rebellion  and  alienation  for  good— now  become 
"  changed"  indeed,  and  a  fellow-labourer  with  his  father  in 
the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  powerfully  advocating  and  enforc- 
ing those  great  and  solemn  truths  he  had  formerly  neglected 
and  trodden  down,  and  engaged  earnestly  to  beseech  others  to 
become  as  he  had  been,  reconciled  unto  God. 

The  good  old  man  received  his  son  as  one  restored  from  the 
spiritually  dead,  and  wept  and  rejoiced  over  him  with  no 
common  joy.* 

*  Several  different  versions  of  this  meeting  between  John  Fothergill 


72 


MEMOIRS   AND  LETTERS 


[1739. 


Some  time  after  this  interview,  John  Fothergill  was  again  at 
York,  and  proceeded  on  a  religious  visit  to  Friends  in  Norfolk, 
Suflfolk,  Essex,  and  the  city  of  London.  Here  he  remained 
several  weeks,  visiting  the  various  meetings  in  and  about  the 
city,  much  to  the  help  and  encouragement  of  many,  and  faith- 
fully discharging  his  own  duly.  On  his  return  home  he  had 
several  large  meetings,  which,  though  attended  with  deep 
labour,  were  to  some  advantage,  and  accompanied  with  holy 
help,  as  he  humbly  acknowledged. 

Early  in  the  year  1739,  his  son  Samuel  communicated  to 
the  Monthly  Meeting — "  his  intention  of  visiting  Friends  in 
"  Wales,  Bristol,  and  some  other  parts,  and  requesting  our  cer- 
"  tificate,  to  signify  our  unity  therewith ;  the  same  is  now 
"  granted  him,  signed  by  several  Friends."  In  returning  from 
this  service,  he  paid  a  visit  to  his  brother  in  London. 

Soon  afterwards,  Susanna  Fothergill  and  Sarah  Routh, 
(afterwards  Sarah  Taylor,)  of  Manchester,  paid  a  visit  to 
"  Friends  in  Westmoreland,  Cumberland,  and  some  parts  of 
"  Yorkshire." 

Several  of  the  following  letters  relate  to  these  engagements. 

PETER  LEADBEATER  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Chester,  1739. 

1  am  truly  glad,  in  humble  thankfulness  to  the  God 
and  Father  of  all  our  mercies,  to  hear  of  thy  health  and  welfare 
every  way,  which  I  pray  may  be  continued,  not  only  through 
this  journey,  but  during  the  whole  of  thy  pilgrimage  through 
this  world  :  strong  are  my  desires  that  the  Lord  Almighty  may 
go  along  with  thee,  and  make  thy  journey  prosperous  and  satis- 
factory to  thyself,  and  serviceable  to  his  church  and  people 
where  thy  lot  may  be  cast. 

and  his  son  are  extant,  and  I  have  thought  it  best  not  to  omit  it.  The 
account  here  given  I  believe  to  be  the  most  correct. — G.  C. 


iETAT.  23.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


73 


Oh  dear  licart !  eye  the  great  and  good  Guide,  and  neither 
run  too  hastily,  nor  yet  stay  behind,  but  mind  the  pointing  forth 
of  the  Divine  hand  ;  and  as  thou  follows  its  direction,  thou  wilt 
yet  feel  the  sweet  incomes  of  Divine  peace,  and  the  love  of  God, 
to  fill  thy  soul  more  and  more,  to  the  making  of  thy  cup  to  over- 
flow, in  which  praises  and  thanksgiving  will  be  returned  to  God, 
the  father,  the  author,  and  fountain  of  all  goodness,  for  ever. 

I  am,  and  always  was,  fully  satisfied  that  the  Great  Master 
who  calleth  and  sendeth  forth  his  servants  into  his  work  and 
service,  will  never  leave  those  who  truly  depend  on  him,  and 
have  no  dependance  upon  themselves  ;  though  they  may  have 
often  to  go  down  into  the  deeps  on  account  of  the  true  seed, 
which  lies  very  low  in  many  places,  and  is  oppressed,  as  a  cart 
with  sheaves,  yet  God,  in  his  own  time,  will  raise  it  into  do- 
minion, and  they  who  suffer  with  it  shall  reign  with  it  in  glor)^ 
Be  not  discouraged,  though  thou  may  meet  with  a  variety  of 
spirits  to  encounter  ;  He  that  was  with  his  stripling  David,  will 
be  with  thee,  and  direct  the  stone  to  the  mark  ;  be  valiant  for 
his  name  and  truth,  in  a  faithful  testimony,  bearing  it  against  all 
false  liberty,  which  has  crept  in  amongst  the  professors  of  truth 
up  anJ  down  in  this  nation. 

As  thou  discharges  thy  duty  faithfully  in  God's  sight,  as 
made  known  unto  thee,  I  doubt  not  but  thou  wilt  return  in 
great  peace,  and  we  shall  again  have  to  drink  of  the  pure 
water  of  life,  clear  as  crystal,  which  proceedeth  from  under 
the  throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb.  Oh,  may  our  souls  often 
thirst  after  it,  and  never  be  satisfied  with  any  thing  short  of 
it !  If  it  were  not  for  God's  mercy  in  opening  the  fresh 
springs  thereof  at  times,  surely  we  had  fainted  long  ago ; 
but  it  is  matter  of  encouragement  to  find  that  God  has  not 
forgotten  to  be  gracious  and  merciful,  at  times  beyond  what 
we  are  capable  of  expressing  in  words,  or  are  in  the  least 
worthy  of;  but  in  inexpressible  mercy  and  goodness  He 
taketh  dehght  in  nursing  up  his  babes  and  children,  as  a 

tender  father :  may  we  always  lea^-       '       obedience  to  his 
11 


74 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1739. 


Divine  will  in  all  things,  in  doing  which  we  shall  be  his  disci- 
ples indeed. 

Love,  boundless  love,  from  Him  who  is  love  altogether  :  in 
this  I  salute  thee,  and  am  thy  sincere  friend  and  brother, 

Peter  Leadbeater. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  "WIFE. 

Carmarthen,  1  Mo.,  26lh,  1739. 
I  am,  through  continued  mercy,  very  well  in  health, 
and  in  a  good  degree  helped  inwardly  by  the  renewings  of  Di- 
vine health  and  regard,  which  encourages  to  renewed  waiting 
upon  the  Divine  opener.  Here  are  but  few  Friends,  but  these 
are  generally  a  living,  tender  people,  and  such  as  are  waiting 
for  Divine  consolation.  I  have  had  several  heavenly  opportuni- 
ties amongst  them  ;  that  has  given  me  great  reason  to  believe 
I  am  in  my  place,  notwithstanding  deep  and  plunging  seasons 
fall  to  our  lot.  We  have  a  perfect  harmony  between  us,  and 
that  is  one  great  help. 

 Believing  myself  in  the  way  of  my  duty  makes  me 

more  easy  that  the  Everlasting  Preserver  will  remember  us  in 
merciful  regard,  and  will  give  us  again  to  be  sensible  of  his 
Divine  favour  together. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Bristol,  2d  Mo.,  20lh,  1739. 

 I  have  now  been  nearly  two  weeks  by  myself,  in 

respect  of  the  company  of  Gharrelt  Van  Hasscn  ;  but  have 
at  times  been  favoured  with  the  Divine  company  of  our  Great 
High  Priest  and  Minister.  Meetings  in  this  county  (Glou- 
cestershire) are  small,  and  mostly  hard  in  the  general,  though 
there  be  a  few  really  living  in  the  particular.  I  many  limes 
have  lo  go  very  low  in  them,  and  discouragement  is  ready 


^TAT.  23.] 


OP   SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


75 


to  creep  in.  and  sometimes  ready  to  send  m3  home  again  ;  but 
now  and  then    goodness  breaks  forth,  as  the   sun  in  its 

brightness,  and  dispels  all  these  dark  fogs  remember 

me  ;  but  we  never  shall  or  can  forget  one  another,  as  we  keep  in 
mind  where  it  was  we  contracted  a  near  oneness  and  acquain- 
tance one  with  another  ;  thy  remembrance  is  near  and  dear  to 
my  soul — next  to  the  spouse,  the  lamb's  wife,  nothing  stands  in 
competition  with  thee. 

S.  F. 

DR.  F0T:IELGILL  to  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL. 

London,  3rd  Mo.,  24th,  1739. 
Perhaps  this  may  come  to  thy  hands  sooner  than 
brother  gets  home  ;  if  so,  it  may  not  be  unpleasant  to  hear  that 
we  parted  at  Oxford  on  third  day  last. 

I  have  been  much  pleased  with  his  conduct,  as  well  as  his 
company,  since  he  came  to  town ;  thou  may  be  sure  that  my 
affection  for  him  led  me  to  observe  him  carefuljy,  and  I  can 
only  say,  upon  the  v  hole,  that  I,  as  well  as  us  all,  have 
fresh  occasion  to  be  thankful  that  Providence  has  placed  you 
together.  I  take  notice,  with  pleasure,  of  an  increase  in  soli- 
dity and  prudent  behaviour,  since  I  last  saw  him  at  Warring- 
ton ;  and  I  doubt  not  but  his  affection  will  engage  him  to  re- 
gard whatever  thou  shalt  think  he  ought  to  do  ;  for  I  cannot 
but  believe  that  his  quick  and  steady  progress  has  been,  and 
yet  will  be,  greatly  promoted  by  thy  watchful,  affectionate  con- 
cern for  him.  Gratitude,  dear  sister,  calls  for  affection  in  re- 
turn, for  restoring  us  a  brother,  and  in  part  making  him  what 
he  is.  The  sensible  part  of  Friends  here  have  unity  with  him  ; 
the  rest,  who  applaud  or  condemn,  as  mere  fancy  leads  them, 
are  not  to  be  hearkened  to. 

I.  F. 


76 


MEMOIRS  ANO  LETTERS 


[1739. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Warrington,  5th  Mo.,  18th,  1739. 
Thy  very  acceptable  letter  is  come  to  hand.  I  can 
sympathize  nearly  with  thee  and  thy  companion  in  this  engage- 
ment and  labour,  having  been  bowed  in  spirit  for  you,  in  a  sense 
of  the  exercise  you  are  attended  with  ;  but  oh  !  let  it  not  sink 
you  too  low,  that  many  are  upon  beds  of  ease  in  a  profession) 
and  the  work  goes  on  heavily  :  strong  is  He  who  is  on  your 
side,  and  abundantly  gracious  to  his  poor  travelling  seed  and 
children,  whose  hearts  are  made  sad,  and  not  upon  their  own 
account,  but  because  the  love  of  others  is  declined,  and 
few  spirits  unite  and  join,  as  shoulder  to  shoulder,  to  carry  on 
the  work ;  but  it  is  heavier  upon  a  little  remnant.  But  the  Le- 
vites  must  enter  Jordan,  in  this  gospel  day,  before  the  rest  of 
the  people,  and  must  abide  there  until  the  rest  be  got  over  ; 
therefore  think  it  not  a  light  thing  to  be  bearin^r  the  ark  of 
the  covenant  before  the  people  ;  but  be  humbly  concerned  to 
go  forward  in  faithfulness,  and  the  Lord,  who  said  in  the  be- 
ginning, "  Let  there  be  light,  and  there  was  light,"  will  sepa- 
rate and  disperse  the  clouds,  and  cause  light  to  shine,  and  in  the 
fulness  thereof,  thou  wilt  know  a  walking  with  great  peace  and 
joy  before  thou  return. 

Nothing,  my  dearest,  would  be  more  satisfactory  to  me  than 
to  enjoy  thy  company  ;  nevertheless,  I  would  not  stint  thee  in 
respect  of  time — take  thine  own  time,  and  fully  make  thyself 
easy  before  thou  return,  that  the  answer  of  peace  may  attend 
thee. 

S.  F. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  SAMUEL. 

Leeds,  7th  Mo.,  8th,  1739. 

Dear  Samuel, 

 Be  assured,   I   think    both   carefully  and 

affectionately  often  of  thee  and  thine ;   yet  I  more  praise 


^TAT.  23.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


77 


that  gracious  power,  which  hath  shown  such  mercy  to  us  in  raising 
thee  as  fronn  death,  and  is  mercifully  pleased  to  regard  thee 
amongst  his  children,  for  thy  own  salvation,  and,  I  hope,  others' 
good,  than  too  much  rejoice  in  crcalurely  esteem,  though  I  am 
reverently  glad  of  thee,  and  have  some  comfortable  hope  that 
the  Everlasting  Father  will  help  thee  to  remember  his  mercy 
to  thee,  so  wisely,  and  with  steady  fear  and  care,  that  he  may 
be  pleased  to  continue  his  regard  to,  and  help  thee,  in  his 
fatherly  goodness  and  living  law,  to  live,  every  way,  to  his 
praise,  and  then  it  will  be  in  a  renewed  sense  of  self-nothingness, 
and  \\miHe  must  do  all  that  is  truly  well  done,  both  in,  by,  and 
for  us,  and  must  have  all  the  glory ;  so  be  it,  saith  my  spirit,  for 
ever  and  ever. 

My  salutation  is  truly  affectionate  and  loving  to  you  all,  my 
dear  and  loving  sons  and  daughters,  hoping  as  well  as  desiring 
all  your  health  and  comfort. 

Jno.  Fotiiergill. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  7th  Mo.,  15th,  1739. 
T  received  thy  acceptable  letter  along  with  dear 
father's,  both  which  came  very  seasonably — I  was  wanting  to 
hear  from  you  both.  I  wonder  not  at  the  tenderness  thou 
expresses  in  thine;  whilst  he  was  liere,  my  heart  was  filled 
with  thankfulness,  not  only  for  such  a  parent,  but  also  that 
I  could  see  some  marks  of  that  treasure  of  goodness,  which 
it  has  pleased  Divine  love  to  place  and  treasure  up  in  his 
soul.  The  wisdom  of  his  conduct,  his  uprightness  and 
humility,  often  affect  me,  and  make  we  wish,  "  Oh,  si  ut  alter 
ab  illo  r  Well,  let  us  incite  each  other  to  a  more  close 
regard  to  that  power  which  can  make  us  in  some  degree  like 
liim ;  we  shall  then  perform  the  duty  we  owe  to  each  other  ; 
and  may  Divine  goodness  make  us  instrumental  to  each 
other's  advancement  in  the  way  to  perfection,  by  often  in- 
chning  our  hearts  to  stir  up  the  pure  mind  in  each  other. 


78 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1740. 


Thou  art  nearer  the  bright  day  than  I  am — thou  can  act  more 
regularly,  as  having  more  light.  I  wish  to  possess  my  soul  in 
patience,  and  follow  after  the  footsteps  of  the  holy  flock. 

I.  F. 

Early  in  the  year  1740,  Samuel  Fothergill  was  engaged 
with  a  certificate  in  a  religious  visit,  in  the  north  of  Yorkshire 
and  Durham.  Whilst  on  this  journey,  he  met,  at  Lancaster, 
with  James  Gough,  of  Ireland,  in  whose  journal  the  circum- 
stance is  thus  mentioned — "  Here  I  met  with  Samuel  Folher- 
"gill,  then  young  in  the  ministry,  but  even  then  appearing 
"  with  that  solemnity,  brightness,  and  gospel  authority,  as  gave 
"  Friends  lively  hopes  of  his  proving,  as  he  did,  through  the 
"  successive  stages  of  his  life,  a  bright  and  shining  light ;  a 
"  vessel  of  honour  indeed  ;  of  eminent  service  in  the  church  of 
"  Christ.  The  public  service  of  the  quarterly  meeting  fell  to 
the  share  of  us  who  were  young,  though  many  weighty,  expe- 
"  rienced  ministers  were  present ;  and,  our  good  Master  being 
"  with  us,  it  proved  a  refreshing,  satisfactory,  and  edifying 
"  meeting." 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

James  Wilson's,  near  Sedbergh,  3d  Mo.,  21st,  1740. 

 Well,  dearest,  let  us  be  easy  in  separation, 

and  truly  given  up  to  the  disposal  of  the  great  Master  ;  and  I 
hope  he  will  bring  me  home  in  peace,  when  this  parting  must 
give  way  to,  I  hope,  a  joyful  meeting. 

Things  here  afford  a  melancholy  prospect,  in  respect  to 
that  life  and  greenness  I  expected  to  have  found,  though  I 
am  favoured  with  a  very  agreeable  companion  this  week, 
but  I  fear  T  cannot  have  his  company  forward.  It  is  Amos 
Robinson,  father's  late  companion  to  London.  We  have 
had  meetings  appointed  for  every  day,  except  7th  day.  I 
hope,  after  first  day,  to  pass  away  pretty  quickly  towards 


^TAT.  24.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


7 


Durham,  but  cannot  as  yet  see  when  I  may  set  my  face  towards 
home.  Oh  !  that  I  may  be  enabled,  though  in  much  weakness, 
to  get  onwards,  so  as  to  discharge  my  duty  ;  that  low  times  of 
much  want  may  not  be  renewed  oftener  than  times  of  strength. 
But  these  meetings  are  suffering,  bowing  times.  A  strange 
deadness  prevails.  On  first  day  last,  had  a  pretty  good  lielpful 
opportunity  at  a  general  meeting  ;  but  it  is  soon  lost  by  the 
succesion  of  hard,  dry  seasons.  Thus  have  I  abruptly  hinted 
at  my  case  one  way.  Yet  I  trust  in  the  great  Helper  and  De- 
liverer of  his  people  from  under  oppressions.  As  to  my  body 
it  is  through  mercy  very  well. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Carr-End,  3d  Mo.,  25th,  1740. 

I  am  through  mercy  very  well  in  health,  and  pretty  easy 
and  quiet  in  mind,  in  a  good  degree  of  a  sense  of  being  in  my 
place  in  this  journey  thus  far.  I  heartily  wish  I  may  so  watch 
as  to  experience  renewedly  the  manifestations  of  the  Divine  will 
in  respect  to  my  duty,  and  suitable  help  to  the  performance 
thereof  in  an  agreeable  manner,  to  the  honour  of  the  Great 
Master,  the  edification  of  the  church,  and  the  peace  of  my  own 
soul. 

Well,  my  dearest,  remember  me  when  it  is  well  with  thee,  for 
I  find  a  prospect  of  hard,  dull,  heavy  work  ;  the  seed  is  oppressed 
in  many,  and  the  well  of  life  is  oppressed  with  rubbish  ;  though 
here  and  there  are  fellows-labourers,  joined  in  heart  and  soul  for 
the  advancement  of  the  glorious  name  ;  a  remnant  of  such  I  met 
with  yesterday,  which  helped  me  out  of  a  very  low  place — a  place 
of  great  want — and  in  some  good  degree  renewed  my  strength. 

My  love  flows  strongly  towards  thee — that  love  that  absence 
dolh  not  diminish,  nor  separation  lessen  

S.  F. 


80 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


.[1740. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Malton,  4th  Mo.,  20,  1740. 

After  a  fatiguing  week,  I  now  find  a  little  opportunity  to 
write  to  ihee.  I  have  had  meetings  at  Newcastle,  Shieldf, 
Sunderland,  Sholton,  Stockton,  Yarum,  Yatton,  (Aylon,) 
whence  over  the  moors  to  Whitby,  where,  on  first  day,  had  two 
large  and  powerful  meetings  among  that  high  exalted  people  ; 
but  renowned  be  the  name  of  the  ever  excellent  Being,  his  eter- 
nal power  was  over  all,  to  the  breaking  some  rocky,  adaman- 
tine hearts,  and  to  the  comforting  of  the  true  travellers.  Next 
day  I  was  at  Castleton,  which  is  Luke  Cock's  meeting.  I 
spent  an  hour  with  that  emblem  of  innocence,  and  in  the  after- 
noon rode  ten  miles,  to  the  house  where  the  ark  resteth,  i.  e., 
John  Richardson's,  who  went  with  me  next  day  to  Pickering, 
and  I  went  back  with  him  to  his  home.  On  the  following  day 
was  at  Kirby  meeting,  which  is  the  meeting  to  which  that  man 
of  God  belongs-  It  was  a  very  heavenly  season.  Oh  !  let  it  be 
for  ever  remembered  by  all  that  partook  of  the  benefit  of  it. 
The  good  man  said  they  had  always  good  meetings,  but  this  was 
a  very  extraordinary  one.  The  life  of  truth  arose  w^onderfully, 
and  that  Father  in  Israel,  John  Richardson,  took  me  home, 
where  we  sat  up  until  almost  daylight.  We  then  repaired  to 
our  respective  lodgings  ;  but  soon  after  five  in  the  morning  he 
came  and  sat  by  my  bedside,  and,  though  weak  and  very  poorly, 
would  accompany  me  ten  miles  to  this  place,  and  have  here 
parted  in  mutual  tenderness. 

My  soul  admires  the  goodness  of  God.  His  words  are  faith- 
ful, just,  and  true,  helping  through  depressing  and  trying  times 
in  many  places  ;  but  the  best  are  reserved,  to  recover  my  droop- 
ing, wounded  soul ;  blessing  and  honour  be  to  him  who  lives 
and  reigns  for  ever  and  ever. 

S.  F. 


iETAT.  24.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


81 


In  this  year,  (1740,)  John  Fothergill,  though  under  much 
bodily  weakness,  attended  tlie  yearly  meeting  in  London, 
wherein,  at  the  desire  of  his  brethren,  he  gave  a  concise  but 
instructive  account  of  his  late  visit  to  America,  the  state  of 
Friends,  the  increase  of  the  Society  in  some  places,  and  its  de- 
clining state  in  others,  with  the  causes  which  had  most  obviously 
contributed  to  produce  this.  He  observed,  that  as  the  elders  of 
the  people  were  preserved  in  freshness  and  zeal,  under  a  dili- 
gent care  for  the  growth  of  spiritual  religion,  truth  increased, 
good  order  was  preserved,  the  discipline  kept  up,  and  the  youth, 
in  many  places,  tender  and  hopeful.  On  the  contrary,  where 
those  who  w"erc  of  the  first  rank,  both  in  respect  to  age  and 
situation  in  life,  declined  in  their  religious  care  ;  where  the 
spirit  of  this  world  suppressed  the  tender  desires  after  riches 
of  a  durable  nature  ;  there,  weakness,  disorder,  and  unfaithful- 
ness were  too  obvious,  and  a  daily  decay  of  real  piety,  as  well 
as  of  numbers,  prevailed,  to  the  grief  of  tlic  honest-hearted,  and 
the  loss  of  those  who  unhappily  suffered  this  corrupting  spirit 
to  take  place.  He  pointed  out,  in  a  clear  manner,  some  parts 
where  these  effects  appeared,  and  the  deep  sorrow  which  at- 
tended him  when  amongst  those  whose  conduct  occasioned 
these  consequences. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1741,  he  visited  Friends  in 
several  of  the  northern  counties.  The  following  letters  were 
written  about  the  time  of  these  engagements. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  JOHN. 

9th  Mo.,  27th,  1740. 

I  have  been,  and  am,  through  merciful  favour,  pre- 
served in  usual  health,  and  attended  with  best  peace  and  com- 
fort in  our  heavenly  Father's  goodness,  though  in  the  manifest 
appearance  (as  I  have  often  looked  at  it  many  months)  of  a 
severe,  threatening  time  of  distress,  in  divers  cases,  to  this  na- 
tion; and  if  we  be  notquickened  and  excited  hereby  to  diligence, 
12 


82 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1740. 


in  seeking  to  lay  hold  of  eternal  treasure,  the  love  and  favour 
of  the  blessed,  infinite  Rock  and  Fountain  of  all  good,  we  shall 
be  more  inexcusable  than  others  of  mankind,  who  know  not  so 
well  and  clearly  where  and  how  to  seek  happiness  and  refuge 
indeed ;  which  I  often  inwardly  long  and  breathe  in  spirit  we 
may  lay  suitably  to  heart.  But  after  this  little  hint  of  what  is 
much  with  me,  I  shall  take  notice  of  some  of  thy  remarks  on 
thy  late  journey,  (into  Holland  and  Germany,)  and  first  tell  thee, 
thy  account  of  those  people  called  Mennonists,  and  Moravians, 
(as  I  suppose  they  call  themselves,)  exactly  agrees  with  my 
secret  and  settled  idea  of  them  ;  for  I  believe  both,  and  the 
latter  especially,  have  had,  in  some  measure,  their  eyes  opened, 
but  they  set  man  to  work,  to  form  and  imitate  religion,  and  to 
build,  without  digging  properly  to  find  the  Rock  ;  yet  many, 
from  their  pious  intentions,  make  a  show  for  a  time,  and  some 
good  may  turn  out  of  it :  but  it  is  a  matter  to  be  lamented  (as 
I  have  very  often  thought)  that  there  should  be,  as  it  were,  an 
universal  and  continued  propensity  prevailing,  amongst  the  Ger- 
mans especially,  to  run  away  with  speculation,  and  thereby  so 
many  valuable  springings  and  glimpses  of  the  heavenly  day 
should  have  yet  brought  forth  or  produced  no  more  durable 
fruits,  in  experiencing  salvation  in  reality.  But  it  ever  will  be 
true,  no  following  Christ  acceptably,  without  submitting  to  the 
cross,  which  hath  always  seemed  to  me  to  be  the  place  at  which 
that  country-people  in  particular,  as  almost  all  nations  in  gene- 
ral, have  miscarried.  May  the  plough  of  God  lake  more 
effectual  hold  amongst  them,  is  my  heart's  desire.  And  may 
this  consideration  strengthen  thee  in  fearing,  and  even  loathing, 
a  sort  of  living  and  delighting,  or  being  at  ease,  in  barren  specu- 
lation, even  upon  best  things  or  principles;  but  be  still  more 
and  more  animated  to  seek  daily  bread  from  the  everlasting 
Father's  own  hand,  who  will  hear  and  answer  in  due  time  the 
sincere  and  patient,  though  hidden  cries  for  it ;  and  thereby 
such  will  grow  in  the  living  Root,  and  bear  fruit  in  due  season, 
to  the  Father's  praise  and  honour. 


jETAT.  25.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  83 

 But  above  all,  my  longing  is  for  thy  spiritual 

access  and  enlargement  in  the  heavenly  pastures,  under  the 
leading  and  putting  forth  of  the  one  heavenly  Shepherd, 
which  I  still  hope,  as  w^ell  as  often  humbly  breathe  for,  on  thy 
account,  being  well  satisfied  of  thy  sincere  desires,  which,  if 
properly  retained  and  carefully  cherished  on  thy  part,  I  cannot 
but  comfortably  hope,  heavenly  Help  will  mercifully  regard : 
so  be  it.  Amen- 

J.  F. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  . 

9th  IVIo.,  6th,  1741. 

 I  cannot  lose  hope,  nor  almost  full  expec- 
tation, but  that  the  Divine  power,  which  can  do  all  things,  will 
one  time  or  other  mercifully  help  thee,  if  thou  labour  in  watch- 
fulness and  patience,  to  look  to  him  for  salvation,  in  true  dili- 
gence, sincere  resignation,  and  holy,  humble  trust :  and  that  lie 
will  refine,  through  various  manners  of  dealing,  and  distressing 
dispensations,  his  beloved  sons,  whom  he  would  make  chosen 
vessels  in  his  house  ;  and  with  such  an  eye  I  believe  he  hath 
looked  upon  thee,  somewhat  like  as  upon  Jacob,  when  a  stone 
was  his  pillow  ;  yet  the  Lord  of  all  power  and  majesty  was  in 
that  place,  though  Jacob  knew  it  not.  And  so  have  some  others 
been  made  witnesses  that  he  in  mercy  and  gracious  goodness 
was  even  working  in  and  near  us,  when  sometimes  the  heavens 
seemed  like  brass,  and  the  earth  like  iron,  and  fear  and  sorrow 
surrounded.  Thus  he  hath  and  will  winnow  and  refine,  and 
will  show  that  none  else  can  save,  and  yet  that  he  forsakes  not 
those  who  would  have  no  other  God  but  him,  the  ever-living 
and  all-powerful  One,  everlastingly  worthy  to  have  all  our  hearts, 
and  to  be  trusted  in,  waited  for,  and  praised  for  ever. 

A  measure  of  his  glorious  love  and  mercy  covers  my  heart 
at  this  time,  and  bows  my  spirit  in  humble  worship  to  his 
most  worthy  name  ;  but  I  cannot  express,  like  many  others, 


\ 


S4 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1741. 


according  to  my  views,  and  must,  therefore,  leave  what  1  have 
liinted,  for  ihee  to  gather  the  substance  as  thou  art  capable. 
I  am  as  well  in  health,  tltrough  merciful  support,  as  I  have 
been  many  years,  and  was  favoured  with  help  from  the  best 
hand,  in  the  little  journey  through  the  northern  counties,  to  as 
much  humbling  gladness  in  the  Lord  as  I  have  almost  ever 
known ;  though  we  met  with  several  afflicting  cases,  besides 
the  common  heaviness,  or  want  of  proper  hunger,  which  is, 
more  or  less,  almost  a  general  hurt. — I  had  the  good  company 
of  Michael  Lightfoot  most  of  the  time. 

J.  F, 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  SAMUEL. 

Darley,  10th  Mo.,  10th,  1741. 

As  you,  my  truly  beloved  sons,  with  your  dear  wives, 
(whom  I  sincerely  value,)  are  much  in  my  remembrance  in 
love,  which  begets  near  care  and  living  breathing  for  your 
growth  in  the  saving  knowledge  of  truth,  that  the  Father  of  all 
mercies  and  true  good  may  be  your  shepherd,  and  help  you  to 
live  to  his  praise ;  as  this  is  almost  all  I  can  do  for  you, 
and  is  often  comfortably  renewed  with  me,  so  I  now  and  then 

want  to  let  you  know  I  have  you  thus  and  often  in  mind  

I 'am  rather  cheerful  in  my  mind  about  thy  having  drawings 
towards  London,  and  hope  it  may  be  made  serviceable,  as  thou 
walks  watchfully,  and  acts  in  humble  care  to  be  an  instrument 
and  servant  directed  by  Christ,  and  rather  be  within  than  exceed. 
Remember  thy  temper  is  active  ;  keep  fear,  therefore,  out  of 
meetings  and  in  meetings,  for  the  Lord  will  help,  and  honours 
those  who  truly  seek  his  honour,  and,  therefore,  carefully  attend 
upon  him  for  food,  and  fresh  help  to  do  his  will  from  day  to 
day  :  thus  may  thou  be  so  directed  and  enabled,  that  ancient 
and  everlasting  life  may  more  and  more  be  known  among  the 
people  ;  then  will  the  Lord  God  be  worshipped,  and  have  the 
praise,  who  is  worthy,  worthy,  worthy  for  evermore. 


jETAt.  25.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


85 


I  think,  if  thou  be  under  no  obHgation  otherwise,  that  John 
Hayward  would  cheerfully  entertain  thee,  and  I  know  not  of  a 
moi'c  worthy  place  ;  but  they  are  not  great  sheivers  of  kindness, 
but  real,  where  they  meet  with  worthy  objects. 

My  last  little  journey  was  made  by  truth  very  satisfactory, 
though  very  mipleasant  circumstances  are  to  be  met  with,  par- 
ticularly in  Cumberland  ;  yet  there  is  a  people  in  that  county 
waiting  for  best  help,  and  worth  labouring  amongst.  I  expect 
to  be  much  about  home  this  winter,  but  I  grow  to  expect  I  sha.]\ 
see  Ireland  once  more,  but  it  seems  not  very  near. 

I  must  stop  my  pen,  though  love  would  still  run  on,  and  I 
hope  will  often  live  and  move  towards  you.  I  will  only  add 
now,  that  I  hope  Joseph  is  yet  alive,  and  I  breathe  with  earn- 
estness in  the  allowance  of  our  Father's  love  for  him  and  his 
dear  wife,  that  they  may  be  helped  to  sanctify  the  Lord  of  all 
power  and  goodness  in  our  hearts,  and  carefully  wait  that  the 
pure  seed  may  not  be  hindered  by  visible  things,  but  bear  fruit 
to  the  glory  of  the  mighty  Husbandman,  who  surely  waits  to 
enable  thereto. 

So  fare  you  all  well,  dear  children,  in  devoted  pursuit  of 
heart  to  be  obedient  children  of  the  Lord  God,  saith  your  nearly 
loving  father, 

John  Fothergill. 

In  1742,  after  visiting  Friends  in  Oxfordshire,  he  again 
attended  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London,  wherein  the  same 
lively  zeal  which,  under  the  guidance  of  heavenly  wisdom,  he 
had  often  before  manifested  on  these  solemn  occasions,  for  the 
prosperity  and  growth  of  truth  and  righteousness,  was  again 
conspicuous. 

The  concern  of  mind  which  he  had  for  some  time  felt  to  visit 
Friends  in  Ireland,  was  now  matured,  and  was  communicated 
to  his  son  in  the  following  letter. 


86 


MEMOins  AND  LETTERS 


[1742. 


JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  IIIS  SON  SAMUEL. 

London,  4lh  Mo.,  5lh,  1742. 

I  have  had  a  desire  to  impart  some  thoughts  to  thee 
relating  to  a  visit  to  Friends  in  Ireland.  I  remember  thou  once 
queried  of  me  if  I  had  any  thing  of  that  nature  before  me,  and 
though  I  could  not  say  I  had  not,  it  seemed  not  then  to  be 
fully  clear  to  me  ;  and  though  I  had  not  much  inclination  then 
to  inquire  the  reason  of  thy  question,  I  was  led  to  think 
thou  might  have  found  something  on  thy  mind  of  that  nature, 
which  induces  me  now  to  acquaint  thee  that  I  believe  such  a 
visit  is  now  become  my  duty,  and  also  that  the  time  draws  near ; 
so  that  if  it  continue  before  me  as  it  has  done,  I  think  to  be 
forward  about  the  latter  part  of  next  month,  and  I  see  not  but 
thy  company  would  be  trul}^  easy  to  me,  if  thou  apprehend  such 
a  concern  to  be  with  thee,  and  also  ripening  as  to  time,  which  I 
would  have  thee  to  consider  ;  and  if  so  thou  find  it  to  operate, 
there  may  be  the  more  strong  ground  of  hope  our  going  together 
may  be  sanctified  to  us  and  our  friends.  Meet  me  at  York, 
with  a  few  lines  in  answer  hereto. 

J.  F. 

Samuel  Fothergill  having  some  prospect  on  his  own  mind  of 
a  visit  to  Ireland,  received  this  proposal  with  much  satisfaction  ; 
the  offer  of  the  company  of  his  venerable  father,  and  the  pros- 
pect of  travelling  with  him  in  such  an  engagement,  were  truly 
agreeable.  But,  in  the  exercise  of  that  care  which  is  so  indis- 
pensable, to  wait  for  the  right  time,  as  well  as  for  the  right 
authority,  to  proceed  in  such  engagements,  he  believed  that  the 
proper  time  for  him  had  not  arrived,  and,  therefore,  notwith- 
standing the  strong  inducements  which  the  proposal  included, 
he  declined  it ;  and  liis  visit  to  Ireland  did  not  take  place  until 
the  year  1744. 

Some  account  of  his  father's  visit  will  be  found  in  the  follow- 
ing letters. 


^TAT.  26.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


87 


JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  .  . 

Chester,  6lh  Mo.,  1742. 
My  hands  and  thoughts  have  been  busy  in  hastening 
to  discharge  myself  of  this  debt  to  Ireland,  and  I  now  hope  for 
a  passage  thither  the  first  suitable  wind.  I  am  but  in  a  low  and 
heavy  state  of  mind,  and  should  be  very  doubtful  of  being  help- 
ed to  live  and  act  properly,  but  that  a  grain  of  faith  is  preserv- 
ed, which  hath  heretofore  often  stayed  my  mind  in  patient  wait- 
ing, till  merciful  supply  of  food,  and  ability  to  labour  again, 
hath  been  experienced  from  the  all-sufficient  and  only  right  re- 
lieving Hand  ;  and  here  is  my  centre,  in  reverent  trust,  where, 
as  we  endeavour  steadily  to  keep,  duly  attending  for  fresh  help, 
tliat  we  may  be  what  we  are,  through  the  grace  from  on  high, 
I  believe  we  shall  not  be  neglected  or  forgotten  of  the  all-know- 
ing Fountain  of  every  good  thing. 


[DR.  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

London,  6th  Mo.,  28th,  1742.  > 

I  have  received  a  letter  from  dear  father,  from 
Dublin  ;  in  it  he  acquainted  me  that  he  had  a  short  and 
easy  passage  over,  and  was  then  pretty  cheerful.  A  friend 
who  saw  him  at  Dublin,  and  is  since  come  to  London, 
gave  me  a  pleasing  account  that  his  Great  Master  had 
eminently  favoured  him  with  his  presence  in  several  meetings, 
at  which  the  friend  was  along  witli  him.  The  need  there 
is  of  such  labourers  everywhere,  makes  me  cheerfully  resign 
him  to  so  hard  a  service  as  he  must  undergo  in  that  country  ; 
but  that  wisdom  and  strength  which  attends  him  from  above, 
I  hope  will  support  through  it  all,  as  well  as  direct.  Oh 
may  we,  dear  sister,  more  and  more  seek  our  father's  God  ! 
His  favour  to  us  will  be  all  we  want,  and  having  him  for  our 
portion,  nothing  necessary  can  be  withheld.     I  every  day 


88 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1742. 


more  aflfectionately  esteem  the  best  of  parents,  if  I  grow  better 
myself,  and  I  cannot  without  tears  call  to  mind  his  more  than 

paternal  concern  for  our  welfare   I  have  nothing  so  much 

in  view  as  to  contribute  all  in  my  power  to  the  relief  of  those 
that  want  it,  in  the  way  of  my  profession,  and  to  the  happiness 
of  those  whom  I  am  so  nearly  interested  in,  as  my  father  and  his 
beloveds.  It  gives  me  sometimes  pain  to  think  that,  according  to 
the  common  period,  one-half  of  life  is  nearly  spent,  exclusive  of 
an}^  accidental  blow,  and  I  not  better  provided,  either  for  this 
life  or  another.  But  I  hope  to  cherish  the  thought,  and  make 
it  my  chief  endeavour,  to  secure  the  last,  and  be  content  with 
whatever  may  be  mv  lot  as  to  the  first. 

I.  F. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  

Mountrath,  1742. 

 I  have  kept  closely  stirring  along,  and  much 

employed,  to  answer  the  end  of  my  coming  as  diligently  and 
honestly  as  I  know  how  ;  which,  through  continued  merciful 
help  and  renewed  supply,  hath  been  hitherto  as  well,  or  rather 
better  borne,  as  to  the  body,  as  well  as  in  the  chief  respect, 
than  I  dared  to  hope  for,  and  I  am  thus  far  thankfully  easy 
on  my  own  part,  though,  through  deep  labour,  and  at  times 
much  sorrow  ;  yet  I  am  glad  I  am  here,  because  of  the 
blessed  favour  of  help  to  pay  this  visit,  and  also  in  that  I 
am  sensible  of  the  strong  extendings  of  gracious  regard  to  this 
nation,  and  even  that  the  dead  may  hear,  and  be  made  to  live. 

  Thine  was  very  acceptable,   being  accompanied 

with  a  relish  of  religious  as  well  as  natural  love  and  nearness, 
which  both  comforts  at  present,  and  increaseth  reverent  trust 
in,  and  regard  to,  the  Almighty  Source  of  all  our  good  and 
true  help,  who  hath  hiddenly,  yet  mercifully,  cared  for  us 
many  ways,  and  requires  our  consideration  as  such,  in  order 
to  encourage  and  instruct,  in  humble  confidence,  yet  with 


,ETAT.  27.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


89 


watchfulness  towards  him,  that  he  may  be  our  Shepherd  through 
time,  and  his  glorious  name  may  be  renowned  here  and  for  ever. 
Bear  with  me,  dear  son,  in  thus  reaching  towards  thee  in  the 
living  sense  of  mercy,  the  staying  comfort  whereof  is  highly  wor- 
thy of  our  secret  notice,  and  solid  commemoration  

I  have  been  round  the  southern  parts,  and  am  now  near  the 
middle,  going  northward,  and  hope  to  be  at  Dublin  at  the  half- 
year's  meeting. 

J.  F. 

After  his  return  from  Ireland,  John  Fothergill  continued 
much  about  home,  visiting  the  neighbouring  meetings  as  his 
health  permitted  ;  this  grew  more  precarious,  and  the  winter 
proving  a  severe  one,  he  was  prevented  from  going  much 
abroad.  His  care,  nevertheless,  for  the  prosperity  of  truth,  was 
as  fresh  as  it  had  ever  been,  his  own  inward  strength  being 
graciously  renewed,  as  he  often,  with  reverent  thankfulness,  ex- 
pressed ;  and  for  the  preservation  of  his  absent  family,  and 
their  increase  in  Divine  experience  and  steady  progi'ess  in  the 
paths  of  humility  and  dependence,  his  soul  was  often  deeply 
engaged. 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  FRANCES  HENSHAW.* 

Darley,  1st  Mo.,  12th,  1743. 

I  had  thee  so  much  in  remembrance  in  a  loving  care 
and  sympathy,  that  I  had  thought  of  writing  to  thee  again 

•Frances  Henshaw,  afterwards  Frances  Dodshon,  was  born  near  Leek, 
in  the  year  1714.  Her  parents  possessed  a  considerable  estate  ;  she  re- 
ctivcd  an  education  according  to  her  station  in  society,  and  was  of 
K<>od  understanding.  About  the  20th  year  of  her  age,  she  was  con- 
vinced of  the  principles  of  Truth  as  heki  by  the.  Society  of  Friends, 
with  whom  she  was  received  into  religious  membership.  So  full  and 
powerful  was  the  conviction,  that  even  in  the  many  deeply  trying  sea- 
sons through  which  she  had  to  pass  during  the  course  of  her  life,  the 
13 


90 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1743. 


before  I  received  thine,  which  may  ti'uly  be  called  a  lamenta- 
tion, and  would  render  thy  case  very  lamentable,  but  that  I  am 
fully  persuaded  Almighty  and  merciful  care  and  succouring 
regard,  from  the  infinite  Being  of  goodness,  and  mercy,  is 
nearer  and  more  regardful  of  thee,  to  stay  and  protect  thee, 
than  thou  at  present  seems  to  apprehend ;  which  revives  my 
hope,  if  thou  can  but  labour  with  some  diligence  to  be  quiet  and 
reverently  resigned,  and  endeavor  to  overlook  the  too  much 
leasing  thyself  about  false  accusations,  by  which  the  enemy 
would  deject  and  destroy  thee,  I  still  hope,  with  much  quietness, 
that  the  day  of  salvation  will  by  little  and  little  dawn,  and  light 
and  life  spring  up  to  thee  again ;  for  I  cannot  think  there  is  so 
much  wrath  and  judgment  upon  thee  from  the  God  of  mercy  as 
thou  would,  as  it  were,  pull  upon  thyself  in  thy  tender  fear, 
and  the  evil  disturber  would  work  thy  sinking  temper  in  this 
time  of  trial,  to  fear  and  conclude ;  this  is  my  real  and  steady 
hope  and  thought  about  thee,  though  I  know  it  is  hard  to  be 
quiet  and  to  retain  any  lively  hope  in  the  truly  loving  soul, 
when  the  Beloved  hides  himself  indeed ;  but  clouds  of  wit- 
nesses bear  testimony  to  the  abundant  mercy  to  humble 
seekers,  and  even  to  the  loathness  of  Goodness  to  forsake 
poor  man,  but  still  more  contrary  to  his  gracious  goodness, 
to  cast  off  one  that  hath  been  and  is  desirous  to  follow  him 
with  full  purpose  of  heart,  as  I  believe  is  truly  thy  case ; 
and  if  thou  be  but  kept  reasonably  still,  and  somewhat 
cheerful  (as  very  much  otherwise  would  not  be  of  service,  but 
might  rather  offend) — for  in  the  most  stillness  we  can  get  to, 
is  help  and  strength  from  the  mighty  Helper  experienced — 

foundation  of  these  principles  in  her  mind,  as  she  often  expressed,  could 
never  be  shaken.  Soon  after  her  convincement,  she  was  called  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry;  she  laboured  much  in  the  exercise  of  this  gift, 
and  travelled  extensively.  She  had  to  pass  through  many  afflicliotis, 
both  spiritually  and  temporally.  She  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  and 
died  in  the  8th  Month,  1793. 


^TAT.  27.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


91 


I  say,  if  thou  so  labour  to  be  kept,  no  reproach  will  attend  it, 
but  what  will,  in  due  tinne,  by  best  wisdom,  be  removed. 

With  respect  to  going  to  Grace  Chambers'  I  am  pleased  with 
the  invitation,  and  think  thy  being  there  awhile  may  be  of  ad- 
vantage both  to  thy  health  and  otherwise,  for  she  is  good  and 
wise  company  :  all  that  I  hesitate  about  is,  lest  thy  being  there 
should  be  a  means  of  exposing  the  case,  to  thy  future  detriment, 
further  than  one  could  wish,  because  all  people  are  not  wise  ; 
but  I  seem  not  to  fear  but  thou  may  live  to  see  clear  weather, 
and  the  light  of  Divine  life  upon  thee  again  ;  but  reverent  still- 
ness in  mind,  as  at  the  footstool  of  the  great  knower  of  all  our 
thoughts,  as  well  as  words  and  actions,  I  cannot  but  beg  for 
thee  as  much  as  ever  thou  canst  for  thyself ;  and  although  I 
should  be  pleased  to  see  thee,  I  see  little  probability  of  its  be- 
ing useful,  nor  can  I  ride  much  without  great  difficulty  ;  but 
whether  I  see  thee  or  not,  my  very  soul  steadily  longs  for  and 
bears  with  thee,  and  almost  believes  I  may  live  to  see  thee 
cheerful  in  the  Lord,  or,  at  least,  that  thou  wilt  live  to  be  so,  by 
the  help  of  that  eternal,  most  gracious  Power  which  ever  brings 
into  a  right  mind  :  thus  mayest  thou  be  regarded  and  helped, 
and  so  farewell,  my  friend,  beloved  for  the  Father's  sake. 

Thy  sincerely  affectionate  friend, 

John  Fothergill. 

In  the  spring  of  1743  his  health  and  strength  were  much  re- 
duced, yet,  though  with  some  difficulty,  he  attended,  in  the  6th 
month,  the  General  Meeting  at  Pickering,  which  was  to  him  a 
favoured  season,  and  he  was  well  satisfied  in  having  undertaken 
the  journey.  These  meetings,  which  were  held  once  a  year, 
were  commonly  very  large,  and  held  in  an  open  place,  to  which 
some  thousands  of  the  neighbouring  people  used  to  resort :  on 
this  occasion  they  behaved  attentively;  but  they  did  not  always 
comport  themselves  so  well. 


92 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS,  JbC. 


[1743. 


He  continued  very  weak  during  the  winter  of  1743,  getting 
but  little  out,  and  scarcely  able  to  converse  with  those  friends 
who  came  to  see  him  at  home  ;  but  his  fervour  of  mind,  and 
love  towards  the  best  things,  abated  not,  but  remained  undi- 
minished. And,  in  addressing  at  this  time  one  of  his  friends, 
he  says,  "  Though  I  am  more  than  a  little  afflicted  in  body,  yet 

"  I  am  not  forsaken  of  the  everlasting  Helper  In  a  re- 

"  newed  consideration,  and  in  a  degree  of  the  sense  of  his 
"  manifold  mercies,  and  fatherly  regard  and  succour  hitherto, 
"  my  heart  worshippeth  his  name,  and  greets  thee  in  love  and 
"  true  well-wishing." 


1 


CHAPTER  VI. 

After  the  return  of  Samuel  Fothergill  from  his  visit  to  the 
north  of  Yorkshire,  in  1740,  until  he  went  into  Ireland,  in  the 
year,  1744,  there  is  but  little  left  on  record  of  his  services,  and 
only  few  of  his  letters. 

In  1741  he  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  the  northern 
counties,  held  at  Kendal,  and  also  the  Yearly  Meeting  in 
London,  and  in  the  autumn  he  visited  some  parts  of  Lancashire 
and  Cumberland ;  soon  afterwards  he  had  a  certificate  to  pay 
a  visit  to  some  of  the  southern  counties,  and  to  the  city  of 
London,  and  spent  the  winter  in  this  engagement. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Carlisle,  6th  Mo.,  5th,  1741. 

  I  am  preserved  in  a  good  state  of  health, 

through  hard  labour,  having  had  as  many  meetings  as  days, 
hitherto,  since  I  came  into  this  county,  and,  through  the  support 
of  Providence,  I  am  so  far  sustained ;  and  this  I  can  with 
reverence  and  trust  say,  I  never  hitherto  experienced,  in  my 
travels,  the  opening,  sustaining  goodness  of  the  Great  Master  to 
such  a  degree  :  have  this  day  had  a  large,  open,  and  precious 
meeting  at  this  place,  with  Friends  and  others  from  several 
parts  of  the  county,  (it  being  the  time  of  the  assizes,)  for 
which,  and  manifold  other  mercies,  ray  soul  ascribes  glory, 
honour,  and  high  praise  to  the  Rock  of  our  strength ;  and  in 
this  holy  love  and  life  my  soul  salutes  thee,  and  longs  for  our 
preservation  in  all  lowliness  and  humility. 

I  would  fain  return,  with  the  sheaves  of  peace  in  my  bosom, 
and  fully  clear  myself  before  I  return,  which  will  be  longer 
than  I  expected. 


I 


94 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1744. 


In  1742  he  was  engaged  with  some  other  Friends,  by 
appointment  of  the  Monthl^v  Meeting,  in  a  rehgious  visit  to  the 
families  of  Friends  within  that  meeting. 

The  prospect  of  religious  duty  in  a  visit  to  Ireland,  which 
had  for  some  time  been  upon  his  mind,  had  continued,  and 
believing  that  the  right  time  for  the  performance  of  it  was 
arrived,  he  proposed  it  to  the  Monthly  Meeting,  and,  with  the 
certificate  and  unity  of  that  meeting,  he  embarked  for  Dublin 
in  the  second  month,  1744,  and  had  a  good  passage. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  letters  writteH  during  this 
visit :  one  of  them  appears  to  be  an  answer  to  some  individual 
who  had  applied  to  him  for  spiritual  counsel ;  the  applications 
of  this  nature  which  he  received  were  frequent. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Dublin,  2d  Mo.,  27th,  1744. 
On  my  arrival  I  came  up  to  this  city  about  eight,  and 
went  to  meeting  at  ten  ;  it  was  very  satisfactory ;  the  goodness 
of  the  Great  Master  was  evidently  manifested,  to  the  abundant 
encouragement  of  my  mind;  it  was  as  a  seal  of  my  commission 
hither,  and  ver}^  much  encouraged  me. 

 I  would  have  thee  be  entirely  easy  on  my  account ;  I 

hope  that  I  am  right  in  this  concern,  and  that  He  that  has 
called  me  will  preserve  from  every  danger ;  sufBcient  is  His 
power  to  keep  us  both  in  our  respective  situations. 

The  Papists  here  are  quiet,  and  profess  an  attachment  to  the 
government,  by  their  observing  the  late  fast  in  a  solemn  manner. 
There  are  fourteen  French  ships  in  this  harbour,  all  seized  upon 
by  the  government ;  and  two  at  the  Isle  of  Man. 

 Through  the  mercy  and  kindness  of  the  Almighty, 

I  have  my  health  pretty  well],  the  closeness  of  the  city  is  in- 
convenient, but  I  soon  leave  it.  The  opening,  enlarging  power 
of  the  gospel  has  not  been  wanting,  but  has  flowed  with  renewed 
evidences  of  my  being  so  far  right. 

On  the  18th,  there  was  in  this  city  the  funeral  of  a  Friend, 


jETAT.  28.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


95 


a  banker,  which  was  attended  by  the  greatest  concourse  of 
people  I  have  ever  seen  upon  the  hke  occasion — a  strange 
mixture  of  folks — lords  and  Jesuits,  merchants  and  parsons, 
&c. :  but  the  mighty  power  of  God  was  revealed  over  all :  to 
His  worthy  name  be  the  attribute  of  praise  for  ever  ! 

On  first  day  last,  we  had  a  large  meeting  in  the  forenoon,  and 
near  the  close  of  that  meeting,  arrived  our  dear  friend,  Eliz. 
Shipley,  and  her  companion,  after  a  tedious  passage  of  nearly 
five  days  (from  Liverpool).  We  were  five  strangers,  but  none 
appeared :  J.  G.  took  up  two-and-a-half  hours  in  one  sermon, 
the  longest  (but  not  the  best)  I  ever  heard,  to  the  great  uneasi- 
ness of  Friends.  Very  great  is  the  danger  of  that  highly^called 
youth. 

The  meetings,  during  the  course  of  this  National  Meeting, 
have  been  attended  with  the  evidence  of  Divine  favour. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  . 

Dublin,  2d  Mo.,  1744. 
If  this  letter  should  come  to  the  hand  of  the  person 
from  whom  I  received  one  last  night,  know,  oh,  distressed  soul ! 
I  am  sensibly  touched  with  thy  state,  and  should  be  thankful  to 
be  instrumental  in  delivering  thee  from  the  gall  of  bitterness 
thou  seems  at  present  closely  beset  with.  I  wish  reflections 
upon  the  nature  and  necessity  of  solid  religion  had  more  place 
in  the  minds  of  our  youth ;  sure  I  am  it  would  tend  to  their 
great  and  lasting  good,  for  in  it  is  the  happiness  of  the  reasonable 
soul,  and  in  its  due  regard  to  its  dictates.  Oh  !  that  in  this  the 
day  of  thy  visitation  thou  might  be  wise  in  heart,  and  give  up  to 
the  sword  that  which  is  for  the  sword.  If  there  was  a  willing- 
ness to  be  divested  of  every  beloved,  inconsistent  with  the  will 
of  Him  that  hath  called  thee,  thou  would  experience  more  help, 
and  a  gradual  removing  of  those  things  that  interfere  between 
thee  and  the  joys  of  God's  people.  The  sins  of  all  mankind 
must  come  to  judgment,  either  here  or  hereafter;  and  they  are 


96 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1744. 


happy  who  have  their  sins  go  beforehand  to  judgment,  and  sub- 
mit thereto ;  in  their  humiHation,  their  judgments  are  taken 
away.  I  never  knew  right  peace  but  in  submitting  to  the  exer- 
cise of  the  righteous  judgment  upon  the  offending  part  in  my 
own  soul.  Now,  as  the  mind  is  brought  to  this  submission,  hard 
things  are  made  easy,  seeming  impossibihties  are  made  possible 
by  the  power  of  God,  and  the  poor  soul  triumphs  in  the  power 
of  God  revealed  for  its  health  and  strength  ;  and  one  thing  after 
another  is  put  off  that  hath  separated  from  good,  and  the  soul 
ariseth  gradually  in  the  image  of  Him  who  hath  called  it.  I 
not  only  pity  thee,  but,  in  the  love  of  our  heavenly  Father,  my 
soul  is  baptized  into  a  sense  and  feeling  of  thy  state  :  1  sympa- 
thize with  thee,  and  come  down  as  into  Jordan  with  thee,  oh 
poor  soul  !  and  a  living  faith  ariseth  in  my  heart  for  thee,  that, 
if  thou  be  truly  submissive,  and  attend  to  the  word  in  thyself, 
the  day  will  shine  forth  more  and  more  to  thee. 

Oh !  be  not  afraid  of  looking  inward  ;  there  is  a  merciful  God 
there.  Spread  thy  cause  before  him,  and  he  will  hear  thee  ;  for 
he  hath  arisen  for  the  piercing  cries  of  the  poor  and  distressed, 
and  ever  will  arise  ;  and,  my  friend,  let  Divine  approbation  be 
the  standard  and  measure  of  thy  conduct.  Alas  !  what  is  man 
(whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils,  here  to-day  and  gone  to-mor- 
row, a  poor  short-sighted  creature,)  that  apprehension  of  cen- 
sures from  such  a  creature  should  deter  any  from  a  religious 
pursuit  of  those  things  that  make  for  his  eternal  happiness  ; 
therefore,  look  above  these  considerations,  consult  not  with  flesh 
and  blood,  but  freely  give  up  to  the  holy  visitation.  Remember 
the  footsteps  of  the  holy  Jesus  and  his  companions,  and  the  tri- 
bulaled  flock  of  God  in  all  ages  :  the  difficulties  in  the  way  are 
for  the  trial  of  our  faith,  and  tend  to  our  advantage.  What  can 
the  world  do  for  thee,  in  that  solemn  period  of  death  ?  Can  it 
give  thee  peace  of  mind  ?  can  it  deliver  thee  from  the  judg- 
ment of  God  ?  No,  far  from  it.  Oh !  therefore,  that  thou 
mav  be  induced  to  submit  to  that  work  thou  hast  known  to 
be  begun,  great  is  the  mercy  of  God  to  penitent  returning 


jEtat.  28.] 


OF  SAMVEL  FOTHERGILL. 


97 


sinners,  of  whose  abundant  mercy  I  am  a  witness.  Prefer  his 
favour,  therefore,  as  thy  chiefest  joy — run  thou  the  celestial  race 
that  is  set  before  tlice — despise  the  shame,  endure  the  cross — 
glorious  is  the  recompense,  and  weighty  is  the  crown — it  is  a 
prize  worth  contending  for,  and  oh  !  saith  my  soul,  that  thou 
may  obtain  it ;  and,  inasmuch  as  this  is  the  day  of  God's 
renewed  mercy  to  thee,  join  in  with  it,  lest  thou  become  a  cast- 
off  for  ever,  and  lose  that  sense  thou  now  hast  on  thy  under- 
standing :  I  much  fear  thy  safety,  if  thou  submit  not  in  this 
renewed  reach  of  love  ;  oh  that  I  could  take  thee  by  the  hands 
and  lead  thee  forward  a  little  !  my  soul  is  bowed  on  thy  behalf, 
that  thou  may  be  blessed  with  a  turn  in  thy  soul  to  God  ;  I 
recommend  thee  to  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  thyself ; 
mayst  thou  attend  to  its  direction,  and,  with  the  perfection  of 
love  and  resignation,  wait  for  the  manifestation  and  production 
of  a  holy  birth  in  thy  soul.  Thus  having  offered,  in  an  abrupt 
manner,  what  seemed  on  my  mind  for  thee,  I  remain,  in  the 
sincerest  manner,  thy  affectionate,  sympathizing,  and  concerned 
Friend, 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Lisburn,  3d  Ma,  9th,  1744. 

 The  day  on  which  I  wrote  my  last  to  thee, 

was  held  the  concluding  meeting  at  Dublin,  to  good  satis- 
faction ;  next  day  I  went  to  Drogheda,  twenty-two  miles, 
and  had  a  meeting  there  on  first  day ;  ten  or  eleven  Friends 
came  with  me  from  Dublin,  and  divers  sober  people  of  other 
persuasions  came  in,  and  Truth  was  exalted  over  all.  I  went 
thence  to  Dundalk,  and  next  morning  to  Rathfriland,  and 
had  a  small  meeting  there,  and  then  fourteen  miles  to  Lurgan 
that  night,  which  was  a  hard  day's  work-  I  rested  at  Lurgan 
on  the  1st,  had  a  meeting  there  on  the  2d,  and  at  Moyallen 
on  the  3d,  where  the  neighbouring  gentry  came  in,  and 
several  clergymen,  ivfo  of  whom  dined  with  me  at  a  Friend's 
14 


98 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1744. 


house  ;  the  Lord's  power  was  that  day  magnified,  glory  be  to 
his  worthy  name.  On  the  4th  instant  went  to  Ballyhagan, 
where  was  a  large  meeting ;  returned  to  Lurgan,  and  rested 
there  one  day  ;  on  the  next,  being  the  first  of  the  week,  went  to 
Ballinderry  in  the  morning,  where  was  a  mighty  large  meeting 
of  Friends  and  others :  I  went  back  to  Lurgan,  where  was  a 
still  larger  meeting  in  the  evening.  It  was  a  day  very  shaking 
to  the  body,  but  my  soul  renewed  its  strength,  in  faith  and  expe- 
rience of  continued  regard.  The  next  day  had  a  meeting  at 
Hillsborough — few  Friends,  but  many  others,  and  some  of  the 
greatest  rank  in  the  neighbourhood.  Yesterday  I  had  no  meet- 
ing, but  there  is  one  appointed  for  to-day. 

Thus  far  truth  has  favoured  beyond  my  expectation,  and  as 
there  seems  a  very  great  openness  hereaway,  I  dare  not  sud- 
denly leave  the  North  ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  I  am  cautious 
of  appointing  meetings  too  fast. 

Friends  here  are  very  loving,  and  unfeignedly  willing  to  do 
anything  that  lies  in  their  power  for  me,  and,  apprehending  me 
to  be  tender,  [in  health,]  are  careful  to  an  extreme  lest  anything 
should  ail  me.  My  landlord,  where  I  now  am,  a  worthy,  inno- 
cent elder,  has  been  with  me  in  most  meetings  I  have  had,  and 
proposes  to  accompany  me  through  the  greatest  part  of  the 
nation,  which  will  be  acceptable  to  me ;  he  was  over  with 
Michael  Li ghtfoot ;  his  name,  Robert  Richardson. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Charlemont,  3d  Mo.,  18th,  1744. 

 My  present  business  is  to  look  to  my  concern 

here,  and  the  faithful  discharge  of  it  to  God,  the  people,  and 
myself ;  and,  living  praises  to  Him  that  is  mindful  of  his  ser- 
vants, I  may  say  he  has  not  hitherto  failed  me  in  this  journey. 
We  had  a  pretty  large  nieeting  at  Ligburn,  and  though 


^TAT.  28.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


99 


things  were  heavy  amongst  them,  yet  Truth  rose,  and  we 
were  favoured :  the  next  day  I  rode  twelve  miles  to  Antrim, 
where  we  had  a  poor  little  meeting  ;  rode  twenty-two  miles  to 
Ballinacree,  where  we  had  a  hard,  though  pretty  satisfactory 
meeting  next  morning,  being  the  first  day  ;  in  the  afternoon 
went  to  Coleraine,  where  was  a  large  meeting  ;  many  people  of 
rank  within  several  miles  came  to  it,  and  the  Lord  owned 
us  by  his  mighty  power :  may  that  day's  favour  remain 
always  in  my  mind.  Next  day  went  twenty  miles  to  Grange, 
where  we  had  a  poor,  heavy  meeting  ;  on  the  16th  to  Tober- 
head,  where  we  had  a  good  meeting  ;  yesterday  rode  nineteen 
miles  lo  this  place,  where  this  day  the  Lord  singularly  owned 
us  by  his  power  and  presence,  to  my  great  admiration  and 
thankfulness.  I  know  not  how  I  may  fare  in  the  rest  of  my 
journey — I  leave  that ;  but  I  may  say  of  a  truth,  the  evident 
favour  and  power  of  God's  Truth  has  hitherto  wonderfully 
helped  me,  and  my  health  hath  been,  and  yet  is,  mercifully 
preserved. 

My  love  to  all  inquiring  friends  in  Penketh  meeting,  in 
earnest  wishes  for  their  prosperity  in  the  glorious  truth  of 
our  God.  May  they  gather  to  the  eternal  refuge  of  the 
people  of  God,  and  therein  be  preserved  to  the  end.  My 
mind  calls  many  of  them  to  remembrance  with  gladness, 
and  humble  yet  fervent  breathing  that  they  may  be  gathered 
to  the  glorious  Shepherd,  whose  pastures  are  sufficiently  capa- 
cious to  hold  thousands  more  than  yet  inhabit  them  ; — the  foun- 
tain is  inexpressibly  open  and  free,  and  oh  that  there  were  a 
steady  thirst  after  it  ! 

My  heart  is  renewedly  touched  with  the  love  of  God  ;  in 
that  I  am  bound  up  with  thee,  and  near  thee,  in  an  indissolu" 
ble  covenant ;  may  our  dwelling  be  evermore  in  it,  so  shall  we 
be  helps  one  to  another. 

S.  F. 


100 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1744. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Limerick,  4th  Mo.,  5th,  1744. 
On  seventh  day,  the  19ih  ult.,  the  Province  Meeting 
began  at  Ballyhagen  ;  on  the  next  day  was  a  very  large  meeting 
there,  and,  what  was  still  better,  a  good  meeting  ;  the  ancient 
testimony  of  light  and  grace  opened.  John  Turner  opened  the 
meeting,  and  it  concluded  well ;  the  hearts  of  Friends  were  com- 
forted one  in  another. 

On  the  21st,  rode  sixteen  miles  to  Castleshane,  and  had  a  meet- 
ing there  that  day,  very  poor  and  small.  The  following  day  I 
rode  to  Cootehill,  twelve  miles ;  had  another  small  meeting  there : 
rode  the  same  evening  to  Ballyhays,  six  miles,  where  I  had  a 
small  meeting  on  the  23d.  On  the  24th  I  rode  to  Castlebarr,  eigh- 
teen miles  ;  had  a  small  meeting  there  :  thence  to  Moate,  thirty- 
nine  miles,  and  was  at  the  meeting  on  first  day,  which  was  pretty 
large,  and  the  same  evening  I  went  six  long  miles  to  Athlone. 
On  second  day  I  went  ten  miles  to  a  meeting  in  the  province  of 
Connaught,  and  returned  the  same  evening  to  Athlone,  where  I 
had  a  large  meeting  in  the  Assembly  Room,  to  good  satisfaction- 
  Very  great  hath  been  the  Lord's  goodness,  and  emi- 
nent his  power,'that  hath  often  attended  me  in  this  visit.  I  some- 
times think  something  is  to  be  met  with  that  will  try  me  tho- 
roughly, and  oh  that  I  may  keep  to  the  Rock  of  the  righteous 
generation,  who  is  able  to  preserve,  and  likewise  sufficient, 
where  the  mind  honestly  rests  upon  him. 

I  am  glad  thou  art  easy  in  mind  in  my  absence  ;  the  Lord  of 
heaven  and  earth  keep  us  both  in  the  way  of  our  duty  to  him, 
resigned  and  submissive.  The  state  of  the  Church  is  very  low 
in  many  parts  of  this  kingdom,  and  meetings  so  dull  and  heavy 
that  nothing  but  the  weight  of  the  powerful  word  itself,  and 
that  manifested  in  an  extraordinary  degree,  can  reach  to  them, 
andthis  has  been  near  from  day  to  day. 

Think  not  that  I  am  puffed  up  with  the  abundance  of  the 
Divine  favour  ;   I  am,  through  mercy,  awfully  humbled  and 


^TAT.  28.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  101 

bended  in  mind,  to  acknowledge  gratefully  the  favour  of  Heaven, 
and  to  consecrate  the  gain  of  all  to  the  Lord.  May  reverence 
and  fear  possess  my  soul  for  ever  ! 


DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

London,  8th  Mo.,  11th,  1744. 

 A  considerable  number  of  engagements  have 

so  taken  up  my  time,  as  even  to  break  in  upon  those  hours 
which  I  could  always  wish  to  command  for  retirement,  or  to 
devote  to  proper  thoughtfulness  about  things  of  the  greatest 
consequence.  But,  alas  I  I  have  been  too  much  robbed  of  this 
for  some  time  past,  not  indeed  by  any  particular  event,  but  by 
the  general  avocations  of  business,  study,  and  the  inlerruption  of 
company.  As  I  have  been  favoured  with  a  sight  of  the  danger 
that  attends  such  a  life,  I  am  in  hopes  sometimes  of  being 
strengthened  to  avoid  them.  At  other  times  I  see  no  v;ay  to 
shun  the  precipice,  but  fear  that  one  day  or  other  I  shall  fall, 
and  be  lost  to  a  sense  of  those  blessed  reproofs  of  instruction 
which  yet,  through  mercy,  at  times  attend  me. 

As  I  can  keep  more  in  this  place,  dear  sister,  our  corres- 
pondence  will  be  more  frequent,  more  truly  affectionate  and 
instructive  ;  for  I  know  thy  lonesome,  solitary  hours  are  not 
spent  unprofitably  ;  thou  art  breathing  after  an  inward  acquaint- 
ance with  thy  father's  God  ;  and  as  thou  abides  in  patience,  he 
will  come  in,  and  then  the  night  will  seem  short;  and  it  will  be 
an  additional  gladness  that  thou  didst  not  repine  when  left  de- 
solate. Thus  let  it  be  our  chiefest  pleasure  to  incite  and  en- 
courage in  each  other  a  steady,  patient  attention  to  that  sacred 
power  which  condescends  to  enlighten,  to  teach,  and  to  enliven 
those  who  thus  daily  seek  for  the  bread  of  life.  'Tis  seldom, 
alas  !  too  seldom,  that  the  hurry  and  cares  of  this  life  permit 
me  to  practise  what  I  here  recommend,  with  the  ardour  I  could 
wish. 

I.  F. 


102 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1744. 


The  period  was  now  approaching  when  John  Fothergill, 
having  laboured  faithfully  and  diligently  in  the  service  of  his 
Lord  and  Master,  was  to  be  removed  from  his  labours,  to  enjoy 
the  reward,  and  to  receive,  as  we  may  reverently  believe,  the 
welcome  sentence  of  "  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant, 
enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord  !" 

In  the  year  1744,  though  very  weak  in  body,  he  assembled 
once  more  with  his  friends  at  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London, 
he  atteii  Jed  the  various  sittings  of  that  meeting,  evidently  under 
an  exemplary  reverent,  weighty  frame  of  mind,  and  his  com- 
pany was  Irul}^  acceptable  and  useful. 

During  the  summer  of  this  year  he  removed  his  residence 
from  Darley,  in  Netherdale,  to  Knaresborough. 

Feeling  a  desire  to  visit  Friends  of  Bristol,  and  to  attend  the 
Circular  Yearl}^  Meeting  at  Worcester,  he  went,  by  way  of 
Cheshire  and  Shrewsbury,  into  Herefordshire,  where  he  visited 
Friends  generally. 

In  the  yearly  meeting  at  Worcester,  he  bore  a  noble  Chris- 
tian testimony  to  the  all-sufficiency  of  that  Power  which  had 
preserved,  supported,  and  guided  him  in  the  way  that  was  right, 
and  well-plcasing  in  degree  ;  and  is  able  and  willing  to  do  the 
same  for  all  the  children  of  men. 

Benjamin  Holme  was  at  this  meeting,  and  in  his  journal  thus 
makes  mention  of  it,  and  also  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  Wales  : 

"  I  went  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  Wales,  which  was  held 
"  this  year  at  Glanneedless  [Llanidloes]  ;  the  said  Yearly 
"  Meeting  was  large  and  very  peaceable,  there  being  a  great 
"  resort  of  other  people  who  were  not  of  our  Society ;  our  friend 
"  Samuel  Fothergill  was  there,  and  had  good  service  for  the 
"  Truth.  I  was  at  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  the  seven  Western 
"  Counties,  held  this  year  at  Worcester  ;  our  friends  John  Fo- 
"  thergill  and  his  son  Samuel  were  there  ;  also  Joshua  Toft  and 
"  Benjamin  Kill ;  the  meeting  was  large  and  peaceable,  and 
"  Friends  were  favoured  therein  with  the  enjoyment  of  Divine 
"  goodness." 


jETAT.  28.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  103 

From  Worcester  Jolin  Fothergill  went  to  Bristol  and  Bath, 
visiting  the  various  meetings  of  Friends,  and  was  helped  to 
labour  faithfully,  and  in  much  plainness  among  tlicm. 

He  left  Bath  in  the  beginning  of  the  eighth  month,  and 
travelled  home  by  easy  journeys,  holding  meetings  as  oppor- 
tunities occurred. 

After  his  return  from  this  journey  he  seldom  got  out,  even  to 
his  own  meeting,  but  continued  visibly  to  decline.  In  a  letter 
to  his  son  John  he  mentions,  that  though  in  this  journey  his 
natural  state  was  but  feeble,  and  attended  with  divers  difficulties, 
yet  he  was  not  doubtful  but  he  should  be  assisted,  in  mercy 
and  favour,  to  discharge  himself  of  the  debt,  (which  had  seemed 
to  grow  and  remain  upon  him,  the  way  he  was  going,)  to  sucli 
a  degree  as  to  return  in  holy  quiet ;  and  adds,  "  I  ask  no 
"  questions  farther,  but  to  be  helped  to  live  to  the  ever-living 
"  Being,  the  little  time  he  may  suffer  me  to  continue  on  this  side 
"  the  grave." 

JOHN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SON  JOHN 

 As  I  have  no  dependance  on  human  assistance 

but  from  thee,  nor  any  correspondence  which  aflfords  me  like 
comfort  and  satisfaction,  I  must  beg  thy  frequent  remembrance, 
and  to  hear  from  thee  as  often  and  freely  as  leisure  will  permit ; 
and  be  assured,  my  hearty,  careful  desires  for  tliee,  in  every 
true  good,  not  only  is  enlivened  by  the  strong  ties  of  nature  and 
affection,  but  are  more  riveted  and  strengthened  by  many  a 
gracious  spring  of  living  goodness  from  the  almighty  Helper  of 
his  people,  who  have  trusted  in  him,  and  feared  him.  Thus, 
dear  son,  farewell;  farewell,  saith  thy  affectionate  father, 

John  Fothergill. 

"  With  these  affecting  expressions,"  says  Doctor  Fothergill, 
"  ended  a  correspondence  which  afforded  the  strongest  satis- 
"  faction  that  anything  in  this  life  could  yield."  The  letter 
was  dated  the  15th  of  the  10th  month,  1744,  from  which 
lime  he  gradually  declined  till  the  13th  of  the  following 


104 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


month,  when  he  peaceably  expired,  leaving  to  his  family  and 
friends  the  comfortable  assurance  of  his  being  gone  before,  to 
enjoy  that  unmixed  liappiness  which  is  the  portion  of  those  who 
prefer  a  conscientious  discharge  of  duty  to  God,  their  families, 
and  the  world,  though  attended  with  labour,  anxious  care,  and 
solicitude,  to  all  the  false,  though  gilded  pursuits,  which  the 
spirit  of  deception  throws  in  the  way  of  mortals. 

His  remains  were  honourably  interred  in  Friends'  burial 
ground  at  Scotton,  near  Knaresborough,  the  15tli  of  the  11th 
month,  1744;  many  friends  attending  on  the  solemn  occasion. 
He  was  aged  69  years,  and  was  a  minister  nearly  50  years. 

His  testimonies  were  awakening,  sound,  and  edifying, 
delivered  in  the  demonstration  of  Divine  authority,  for  he 
handled  not  the  Word  of  God  deceitfully,  nor  endeavoured  to 
please  men ;  and  as  he  waited  to  be  endued  with  wisdom  and 
power  from  on  high,  so  was  he  enabled  to  speak  to  the  condi- 
tions of  the  people. 

He  was  a  man  zealously  concerned  for  good  order  and  the 
discipline  of  the  Church,  and  was  remarkably  qualified  for  the 
management  of  its  affairs,  being  of  a  quick  apprehension,  an 
extensive  capacity,  and  deep  judgment,  and  could  express  him- 
self aptly,  copiously,  and  strongly  ;  and  as  he  dihgently  attended 
the  various  meetings  for  discipline,  so  he  was  of  peculiar 
service  in  them,  approving  himself  a  wise  and  able  counsellor, 
faithful  and  just  to  God  and  man. 

His  convessation  was  exemplary,  being  humble  and  sin- 
cere, doing  the  work  of  an  evangelist,  and  giving  proof  of  his 
ministry,  in  patience,  temperance,  vigilance,  and  fortitude; 
enduring  afflictions,  and  using  the  things  of  this  life  with  mode- 
ration. 

Several  of  the  following  letters  have  reference  to  the  event 
of  John  Fothergill's  decease. 


^TAT.  29.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  105 


ALEXANDER  FOTHERGILL  TO  T         L  . 

Carr-End,  11th  Mo.,  1744. 

I  have  for  some  time  had  a  desire  to  give  thee  an 
account  of  the  decease  of  tluj  friend,  and  uiy  near  and  worthy 
father,  John  Fothcrgill,  who  departed  this  hfe  on  the  morning 
of  the  13th  of  this  month,  being  the  first  day  of  the  week. 

His  natural  body  hath  been  visibly  going  to  decay  these 
several  years,  though  he  has  been  willing  to  show  more  care 
and  attention  to  it  of  late  than  formerly  ;  the  reason  he  gave  for 
this  was,  that  he  might  be  better  able  to  discharge  some  services 
that  he  seemed  to  have  before  him  on  Truth's  account ;  in  the 
discharge  whereof  he  frequently  forgot  the  declining  state  of  his 
body  :  thus  cf  late  he  hath  returned  home,  inwardly  cheerful 
and  easy  in  his  spirit,  yet  the  poor  outward  frame  reduced  to 
the  lowest  ebb  :  then  care  and  proper  medicines  were  used  to 
recruit  it,  which  was  no  sooner  done  than  it  was  again  exposed 
to  fresh  hardships  ;  his  love  and  zeal  for  the  cause  of  truth  and 
the  welfare  of  the  Church,  working  upon  a  generous  mind,  fully 
devoted  to  serve  his  God  and  his  friends  without  reserve,  car- 
ried him  faster  on  than  the  body  was  well  able  to  bear. 

In  his  last  journey  to  the  West  of  England,  he  wrote  from 
Bath  that  he  had  been  supported  to  his  admiration,  and  had 
been  enabled  fully  to  discharge  himself,  and  he  thought  his 
health  had  not  suffered  much,  and  that  he  felt  as  though  he  had 
nothing  to  do  but  to  return  home  with  the  reward  of  peace  in 
his  bosom  :  but  the  season  being  very  rainy,  and  he  riding  every 
day,  brought  on  an  aguish  complaint,  with  a  total  loss  of  appe- 
tite, so  that  he  was  very  often  sick,  and  altogether  unable  to 
take  food. 

I  saw  him  twice  ;  he  was  cheerful  and  easy  in  his  spirit, 
and  not  without  hopes  to  see  his  friends  again ;  but  said,  if 
15 


106  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1745. 

it  happen  otherwise,  he  was  content,  having  so  laboured  in 
the  day  that  he  was  prepared  for  the  evening;  and  if  he 
should  recover  again,  it  would  be  no  further  pleasant  to  him 
than  that  he  could  be  serviceable  to  truth. 

Alexander  Fothergill. 


MA.Y  DRUMMOND*  TO  SAMUEL  AND  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL, 
ON  THE  DEATH  OF  THEIR  FATHER. 

Bristol,  11th  Mo.,  1744. 

Two  days  ago  the  unacceptable  tidings  of  your 
worthy  father's  death  reached  me.  Dead  !  did  I  say  ?  No  ! 
he  is  not  dead  ;  he  lived  in  the  eternal  existence,  and  in  that 
has  lain  down  a  tender  fabric.     On  his  account  no  friend 

*  May  Drummond  was  of  a  considerable  family  in  North  Britain ;  she 
was  convinced  of  the  truth  of  Friends'  principles  at  Edinburgh,  by  the 
ministry  of  Thomas  Story,  about  the  year  1731,  at  the  time  that  her 
brother  was  the  Provost  of  that  ciiy.  He  was  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  the  Royal  Infirmary,  and  his  sister  was  active  in  procuring  funds  from 
Friends  in  England  in  aid  of  the  Institution  ;  the  various  sums  contributed 
by  several  Quarterly  Meetings  remain  recorded  on  a  board  in  one  of  the 
apartments.  May  Drummond  had  much  to  endure  from  her  relations  and 
friends,  who,  being  what  were  considered  of  genteel  rank,  were  much 
grieved  at  her  uniting  herself  to  the  despised  people  called  Quakers,  and 
were  all  against  her,  except  a  younger  brother.  She,  nevertheless,  conti- 
nued firm  in  her  attachment  to  the  principles  she  had  embraced,  and,  main- 
taining her  ground,  was,  in  a  few  years,  called  into  the  ministry.  In  this 
she  was  much  engaged  for  many  years.  She  was  a  fluent  speaker  and 
very  popular,  particularly  amongst  those  of  other  societies,  who  were  much 
drawn  to  the  meetings  she  attended  :  her  character  and  the  circumstances 
of  her  convincement  often  exciting  curiosity.  One  well  qualified  to  judge, 
says,  of  her  ministry,  in  17-'-i9,  "  She  has  some  masculine,  nervous  e.xpres- 
*'  sions  ;  her  periods  are  mostly  regular  and  just :  did  she  not  affect  it,  one 
"  might  say  she  was  eloquent."  She  died  at  Edinburgh  aliout  the  year 
1772 ;  but,  during  the  latter  years  of  her  life,  was  not  held  in  the  same  esti- 
mation that  she  had  formerly  been. 


^TAT.  29.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


107 


need  to  lament;  yet  nature  must  have  an  allowance,  and  Divine 
favour  has  indulged  us  so  far  as  to  give  us  the  example,  when 
our  great  Master  shed  tears  for  dead  Lazarus.  In  )'our  grief 
on  this  account  I  truly  share ;  and  of  the  joy  that  you  feel,  from 
the  certain  knowledge  which  truth  hath  communicated  to  you, 
of  your  deceased  parent's  felicity,  I  taste. 

So  many  have  fallen  who  have  been  raised  up  to  be  shining 
instruments,  that  it  cannot  fail  of  being  an  inexpressible  consola- 
tion to  you  to  reflect  that  your  worthy  deceased  parent  retained 
his  integrity.  No  children  had  ever  better  example  in  a  father, 
nor  more  seasonable  admonitions  ;  and  he,  before  his  departure, 
lived  to  see  the  desire  of  liis  soul,  and  the  prayer  he  had  put  up 
for  the  salvation  of  his  children  answered  to  his  wish,  and  all 
his  offspring  in  so  hopeful  a  way,  that  I  make  no  doubt  of  his 
saying  with  good  old  Simeon,  "  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  ser- 
vant depart  in  peace  ;  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation.' 

May  Drummond. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

London,  12th  Mo.,  2d,  1744—5. 

I  can  say  nothing  to  thee  upon  the  present  distressing 
occasion  but  what  thy  own  prudence  will  suggest  to  thee  ;  we 
both  feel  that  our  loss  is  great,  yet  we  don't  know  it  to  the  full ; 
our  best  friend,  protector,  and  counsellor  is  no  more  ;  it  would 
be  unnatural  not  to  grieve.  But  still  we  must  remember  that  he 
is  only  gone  before  to  that  possession  where  we  shall  at  last 
arrive,  if  we  tread  in  his  steps  ;  to  excite  and  encourage  one 
another  in  this  race,  oh,  may  it  be  our  constant  employ. 

Tiirough  his  care,  and  the  blessing  of  kind  Providence  upon 
his  earnest  wishes  and  prayers,  I  am  at  present  in  a  way  of  life, 
that  both  affords  me  what  I  have  occasion  for,  and  seems  not 
unlikely  to  continue  so  ;  and  whilst  it  is,  neither  be  afraid  of 
wanting  thyself,  nor  think  thou  art  obliged  to  me.  In  this  part, 
while  I  am  able,  I  will  be  a  father,  thy  friend  and  brother ;  I 


108 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS,  &C. 


[1745. 


should  not  say  I  will  be  these  things  ;  it  is  that  good  hand  that 
blesses  my  endeavours,  for  that  dear  good  man's  sake  and  thine. 
Brother  Samuel  lias  written  to  me,  but  very  short  hints  of  every 
thing.  Do,  dear  Sisier,  take  the  first  opportunity  of  acquaint- 
ing me  as  fully  as  thou  canst  with  all  that  has  passed  since  he 
began  to  decline,  and  if  any  memorable  expressions  dropped 
from  him  in  his  illness,  please  to  let  me  know. 

 I  find  Brother  has  collected  most  of  his  papers  ;  the 

rest  1  shall  be  glad  to  have,  in  order  that,  from  those  I  have  in 
my  hands,  and  the  rest,  I  may  be  able  to  finish  that  account 
which  dear  Father  had  begun,  partly  at  my  request. 

I.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTKERGILL,  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  12th  Mo.,  2,  1744—5. 

 As  tlie  common  centre  of  our  love  is  now,  alas  ! 

removed,  I  feel  the  sensible  transferring  of  it  to  thee.  May  it 
mutually  increase  between  us  !  I  am  sensible  of  thy  lonely 
situation — I  view  it  sometimes  with  secret  and  strong  sympathy. 
I  strongly  hope  encouraging  goodness  may  attend  thee  to  dissi- 
pate the  gloominess  and  pain  that  at  times  must  and  will  be 
about  thee.  Great  is  our  loss,  and  great  is  the  loss  of  the 
Cliurch ;  may  we,  the  offspring  of  so  worthy  a  parent,  with 
redoubled  care  look  to  that  which  made  him  useful  and  honour- 
able in  his  station.  My  heart  is  full  when  I  consider  things  as 
they  are. 

Dear  Sister,  I  advise  thee  to  endeavour  much  after  quietness 
in  heart  and  mind.  I  know  thy  prudence,  and  that  thy  cheerful 
countenance  often  covers  a  pained  mind ;  thou  hast  yet  some 
left  that  love  thee — some  relations  that  are  not  a  dishonour  to 
the  cause  of  truth  our  father  promoted,  and  that  are  pleased  to 
have  such  a  relation,  and  would  give  all  the  evidence  they  could 
of  it.  S.  F. 


1 


CHAPTER  VII. 

I 

During  several  of  the  years  succeeding  the  decease  of  his 
Father,  there  is  but  Httle  left  on  record  of  the  labours  or  cor-  ' 
respondence  of  Samuel  Fothergili,.    Yet,  neither  during  this 
period,  nor  in  any  other  after  he  had  embarked  in  the  work, 
could  he  be  numbered  amongst  the  slothful  or  the  indifferent. 

He  had  early  attained  to  a  high  and  settled  standing  as  a 
minister,  and  his  faithfulness  and  diligence  were  manifested,  not 
only  in  those  more  extended  services  which  he  performed  with 
the  certificate  of  the  monthly  meeting,  and  in  the  regular  attend- 
ance of,  and  services  in,  the  meetings  for  worship  and  for  dis-  i 
cipline,  of  which  he  was  strictly  a  member  ;  but  he  also  very 
frequently  visited  those  of  the  adjacent  or  more  distant  counties  ;  [ 
as  the  circular  or  local  yearly  meetings  which  were  then  held  j 
in  several  parts  of  the  nation — those  called  General  Meetings,  [ 
and  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London.     His  company  was  much  ; 
solicited,  and  very  often  given,  at  funerals  and  on  other  public  j 
occasions.    The  practice  of  attending  at  such  limes,  even  at  a  | 
considerable  distance,  being  much  more  common  in  his  day  , 
than  it  has  become  of  later  years. 

He  considered  it  a  part  of  his  Christian  duty,  as  a  minister  of 
the  gospel,  to  make  use  of  every  occasion  in  his  power  to 
advocate  and  promote  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  ;  ^ 
to  this  he  was  devoted — to  this  he  gave  up  much  of  his  time  j 
and  his  substance — and  to  this  he  was  ever  ready  to  sacrifice  j 
his  ease  and  his  strength  ;   great  was  his  zeal,  and  it  fre-  i 
quently  led  him  into  much  exertion  and  fatigue,  whereby  his 
bodily  powers  were  greatly  exhausted.  ■> 


I 


110 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1745. 


The  natural  energy  of  his  character  was  exhibited  herein, 
and  was  also  developed  in  his  ministry  ;  in  which  he  was  fre- 
quently led  on  in  a  strain  of  deep  and  fervid  eloquence,  accom- 
panied by  the  demonstration  of  power  which  made  strong  im- 
pressions on  the  minds  of  his  hearers  ;  thoroughly  convinced 
himself  of  the  great  truths  he  had  to  declare,  he  desired  that 
similar  conviction  should  be  wrought  in  the  hearts  of  his 
auditors. 

In  1745  he  attended  the  Northern  Yearly  Meeting,  held  at 
Kendal  ;  also  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London.  His  wife  had  a 
certificate  to  visit  Scotland,  and  some  parts  of  the  north  of  Eng- 
land, but  on  account  of  the  political  troubles  which  prevailed, 
owing  to  the  irruption  of  the  Scots  into  England,  her  visit  was 
delayed  until  the  following  year. 


DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOSHUA  TOFT.* 

London,  4th  Mo.,  2d,  1746. 

Those  that  are  at  heart  concerned  for  the  welfare 
of  the  Society,  cannot  but  be  desirous  of  knowing  a  little  of 
what  has  passed  amongst  us  upon  the  late  solemn  occasion 

*  Joshua  Toft  was  the  intimate  friend  of  Samuel  Folliergill,  and  his 
"  fellow-labourer  in  the  gospel  of  Christ."  He  had  yielded  in  very  early 
life  to  the  power  and  influence  of  Truth,  and  was  united  in  religious  mem- 
bership with  the  Society  of  Friends.  When  in  the  strength  of  his  days, 
and  extensively  engaged  in  a  lucrative  business,  which  promised  to  yield 
him  abundance  of  wealth,  being  content  with  the  moderate  competency  al- 
ready acquired,  he,  with  noble  resolution,  declined  trade,  that  he  might 
more  fully  devote  himself  to  his  Lord  and  Master's  service  in  the  gospel 
ministry,  into  which  he  had  been  called  about  the  thirty-second  year  of  his 
age.  In  this  he  diligently  and  faithfully  laboured  many  years,  and  travelled 
much  in  various  parts  of  the  nation. 

For  more  than  fourteen  years  of  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  he  was 
deprived  of  his  sight.  This,  with  other  bodily  afflictions,  he  bore 
with  much  patience  and  resignation.  A  short  time  before  his  death, 
he  said  he  had  received  much  consolation  from  a  most  gracious 


4 


JETKT.  30.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  Ill 

[the  Yearly  Meeting.]  We  should  many  of  us  have  been  glad 
to  have  seen  thee  wilh  us,  but  as  I  hope  that  thou  wast  quite 
easy  in  staying  away,  we  ought  to  think  it  was  tliy  place,  and 

therefore  acquiesce  Thou  wilt  probably  have  heard  that 

an  address  to  the  King  was  very  early  proposed  to  the  meeting, 
and,  as  most  of  those  Friends  who  were  looked  upon  as  capa- 
ble of  advising  were  previously  consulted,  it  was  soon  agreed 
to.  I  thought  the  proper  time  was  elapsed  ;  had  I  been  pre- 
sent, I  believe  I  should  have  said  so  much  ;  but  an  address  was 
ordered  to  be  drawn,  and  after  a  great  deal  of  time  spent  upon 
it,  the  draft  was  brought  in,  and  almost  unanimously  agreed  to.* 
It  was  presented  yesterday,  by  several  Friends,  and  received  in 
a  manner  that  left  them  no  room  to  doubt  of  its  being  highly 
acceptable.  The  Duke  of  Grafton  was  ordered  by  the  King  to 
go  out  and  tell  the  Friends,  that  he  had  not  received  one  address 
that  had  given  him  more  satisfaction,  and  that  they  might  assure 
their  Friends  of  it.  There  was  not  much  business  out  of  the 
ordinary  course  lhat  presented  itself,  nor  any  occasion  given 
for  long  debates. 

I  know  not  whether  I  am  in  any  condition  to  give  thee  an 
account  of  the  other  meetings  :  in  some,  things  went  well ;  in 
others,  not  entirely  to  satisfaction.  Sometimes  too  great  a  loose 
is  given  to  words.  Plain,  simple  truth  needs  little  decoration  ; 
it  strikes  the  mind  disposed  to  receive  it  to  advantage  more  for- 
cibly than  the  greatest  eloquence.  A  parade  of  words,  indeed, 
bewitches  the  hearers,  and  makes  them  admire  and  praise,  and 
at  length  puflf  up  the  poor  instrument  if  possible.  We  are  all 
susceptible,  in  some  degree,  of  these  impressions,  unless  we 
are  upon  the  strictest  guard. 

I.  F. 

promise  extended  to  him,  '•  I  have  been  with  thee,  I  am  with  thee,  and 
I  will  be  with  thee." 

He  died  at  his  house  at  Har-gate,  near  Leek,  the  15th  of  the  8th 
Month,  1769,  aged  upwards  of  80,  a  minister  48  years. 

♦This  was  an  address  to  George  II.,  on  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion 
of  1745. 


112 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


L1746. 


In  the  year  1746,  Samuel  Fothergill  paid  a  religious  visit 
to  Cumberland  and  Scotland  ;  in  the  following  year  he  was 
engaged  in  a  visit  to  Friends  in  Warwickshire,  Oxfordshire,  and 
London  :  during  this  journey  he  attended  the  Circular  Yearly 
Meeting  held  at  Leominster,  which  he  mentions  in  one  of 
the  following  letters.  His  wife  also  visited  Worcestershire 
and  Gloucestershire. 

In  1748  he  paid  a  visit  to  Friends  in  Cumberland,  and  also 
to  the  city  of  Bristol. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

8th  Mo.,  23,  1746. 
There  are  times  when  we  are  drawn  to  retirement, 
and  It  is  made  beneficial  to  us  ;  we  leave  it  with  cheerfulness, 
and  the  mind  is  relieved  and  comforted.  These  should  ever  be 
embraced,  and  the  disposition  to  improve  them  should  be  care- 
fully cultivated.  But  as  nothing  is  so  painful  to  ourselves,  or 
makes  us  so  uneasy  to  others,  as  indulging  eating  cares,  so  we 
should  be  for  ever  on  our  guard  against  them. 

 I  often  reflect,  that  I  know  not  what  is  best  for  me  ; 

the  most  flattering  prospects  may  be  attended  with  dangers  that 
I  cannot  see,  and  it  is,  therefore,  in  kindness  that  Heaven  with- 
holds them  from  me.  I  am  already  too  much  retarded  in  my 
pursuits  after  what  alone  can  make  mankind  truly  happy  ;  if  I 
have  more  difficulties,  my  progress  must  be  still  less.  Thus  I 
argue,  and  thus  I  think,  when  the  best  mind  is  uppermost ;  but 
this  true  bias,  how  often  is  it  perverted  by  unworthy  objects! 

 Brother  Samuel  wrote  to  me  from  Durham.  His 

letter  gave  me  great  satisfaction  ;  it  spoke  his  father's  lan- 
guage in  his  father's  spirit ;  and  may  he  ever  be  clothed 
with  it ! 

 I  sate  the  little  meeting  at  Knaresboro'.     In  the 

evening  I  went  to  the  place  where  the  remains  of  our  dear 
father  were  laid,  and  though  I  could  not  join  you  in  perform-i 


iBTAT.  32.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  113 

ing  the  office  of  a  child,*  yet  I  feh  then,  what  you  had  felt 
before. 

1  could  not  have  been  fully  satisfied  with  my  journey  without 
some  such  opportunity. 

I.  F. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  LAWFORD  GODFREY.+ 

10th  Mo.,  11th,  1747. 

My  mind  was  reverently  humbled  before  the  Almighty, 
during  the  course  of  that  solemnity  at  Leominster,  and  under  a 
lively  sense  of  llie  extensions  of  a  regard,  ancient  and  new,  that 
He  who  is  the  author  of  our  being,  the  author  of  our  happiness, 
is  not  only  ours  who  have  been  so  eminently  visited,  but  is  the 
safety  of  an  alienated  world,  in  the  reconciling  and  restoring  it 
to  himself.  For  this  end  we  know  he  immediately  reaches  to 
the  minds  of  mankind,  and,  having  led  a  remnant  into  a  living 
experience,  through  faith  in  his  name,  that  he  is  Jehovah,  great 
in  council,  and  mighty  in  power,  he  hath  enabled  them  to  be 
co-workers  together  with  himself,  for  the  cultivation  of  their 
own  vineyards,  and,  through  a  diversity  of  instruments,  and 
variety  of  gifts,  to  be  as  the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  this  apostatized  generation.  "  Prepare  ye  the  way  of 
the  Lord,  make  his  path  straight."  The  unity  of  these  labour- 
ers, in  the  promotion  of  this  glorious  work,  is  great,  and  unto 
strangers  incomprehensible  ;  but,  being  baptized  by  one  Lord, 
into  a  most  holy  faith,  some  are  builders,  some  hewers  of 
stones,  some  diggers  of  them,  as  out  of  the  earth,  and  some 
others  more  immediately  bearers  of  burthens — each  led  into 
their  respective  services  by  the  great  Architect,  and  directed  to 
proceed  therein  through  the  continuance  of  the  same  wisdom, 

•  In  attending  at  the  interment. 

f  Lavvford  Godfrey  resided  at  Exeter,  and  died  in  that  city,  on  the  10th 
of  the  llth  Month,  1747,  aged  68,  a  minister  nearly  40  years. 
16 


114 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1748. 


as  fellow-servants  in  the  cause  of  God.  A  concern  for  its  pro- 
motion, and  the  mutual  preservation  one  of  another,  strongly 
and  frequently  prevailed,  and  I  am  persuaded  a  sincere  regard 
for  the  honour  of  the  great  Name,  and  travail  for  Zion's  pros- 
perity, attended  thy  mind,  and  led  thee,  in  openings  of  Divine 
council,  to  impart  thy  experience  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  to 
me,  that  have  great  need  of  every  help.  I  am  thankful  to  the 
great  Master  that  we  have  fathers,  as  well  as  instructors,  in 
mercy  continued  amongst  us  ;  such  as  by  a  long  course  of  ex- 
perience have  explored  the  great  mystery  of  godliness  and  un- 
godliness ;  watchmen  that  are  placed  upon  Zion's  walls,  v.'hose 
trumpets  give  a  certain  sound.  For  my  own  part,  I  thank  God 
he  has  not  left  me  destitute  of  a  humble  sense  of  my  own  weak- 
ness, and  the  jeopardies  that  attend  me,  engaging  according  to 
his  wisdom,  by  his  rod  and  his  staff,  to  a  labour  of  soul  to  be 
what  I  ought  to  be,  to  fill  my  station,  and  stand  in  my  lot  to  the 
end  of  days. 

There  is  none  knows,  but  the  Lord  and  my  own  soul,  the 
baptisms  wherewith  I  am  at  times  exercised,  nor  the  steps  I 
have  to  tread.  Oh,  that  I  may  be  helped  to  take  heed  to  the 
ministry  of  the  word,  that  in  all  dispensations,  to  myself  and 
others,  I  may  fulfil  it.  I  have  had  a  renewed  sense,  often  com- 
fortably impressed  on  my  mind,  in  my  late  visit  and  travail, 
that  the  Lord  would  preserve  through  all,  and  keep  me  to  the 
end.  Though  my  may  be  through  the  shadow  of  death,  I 
feel  my  safety  is  in  an  humble  walking,  and  steady  feeling 
after  God,  for  renewing  of  bread,  day  after  day.  Sometimes 
his  countenance  is  clouded,  and,  blessed  be  his  name,  it  is  at 
other  times  fairer  than  the  children  of  men. 

I  sat  down  with  my  spirit  bowed  in  gospel  fellowship  with 
the  true  followers  of  the  Lamb  ;  I  knew  not  what  I  might  offer 
with  respect  to  words.  May  our  dwelling  be  in  that,  which  no 
language  can  fully  express,  and  our  correspondence,  though  not 
with  the  ornamental  arrangement  of  words  or  expressions,  tend 
to  stir  up  reciprocally  the  pure  mind. 


^TAT.  33.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


115 


I  am,  with  the  salutation  of  strongest  affection,  that  is  ever- 
lasting in  duration,  and  unchangeable  in  its  nature, 

Thy  brother  and  fellow-sufferer  in  the  patience  and 
tribulation  of  Christ's  kingdom, 

Samuel  Fothergill. 

SAMUKL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOSHUA  TOFT. 

Warrington,  6th  Mo.,  19,  1748. 

This  summer  I  have  made  an  excursion  to  Scar- 
borough, and  amongst  the  meetings  of  Friends  on  the  eastern 
shore  of  Yorkshire.  The  consciousness  of  an  honest  intention, 
and  of  room  for  the  testimony  amongst  those  without,  together 
with  evident  tokens  of  the  Great  Master's  regard,  afforded,  and 
still  doth,  a  lively  degree  of  satisfaction  and  comfort ;  but  to 
view  the  state  of  the  Church  in  sundry  places,  particularly  in 

 ,  gives  a  good  deal  of  pain  :  some  few  keep  their  places, 

but  the  generality  are  the  most  insensible,  unfeeling  people  I 
ever  was  concerned  amongst. 

The  meetings  there  were  large  and  peaceable,  and  to  my 
satisfaction  in  respect  to  those  not  of  our  Society.  I  returned, 
by  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  Pickering,  which  was  very  large,  and 
Friends  told  me,  the  greatest  they  had  had  for  some  years  ;  but  as 
it  has  overgrown  its  service,  and  many  come  to  it  for  no  better 
purpose  than  drunkenness  and  revelling,  I  believe  this  was  the 
last  tliat  will  be  held  there.  Marsden  Height*  Meeting,  I  hear, 
was  remarkably  large,  but  I  fear  not  altogether  satisfactory.  I 
had  great  hopes  thou  would  have  been  there. 

S.  F. 

In  the  year  1749,  Samuel  Fothergill  again  visited  some  of 
the  midland  counties,  and  the  city  of  London  ;  he  afterwards 

*  This  was  one  of  those  called  General  Meetings,  then  annually  held, 
and  of  which  S.  Fothergill  was  a  very  frequent  atlender: 


116 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1750 


extended  his  services  into  some  parts  of  the  south  and  west  of 
England  ;  and  was  also  at  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  Wales,  held 
at  Haverfordwest;  thence  we  went  to  Swansea,  to  attend  the 
burial  of  his  friend  Benjamin  Holme,  who  being  on  his  way  to 
the  Yearly  Meeting  for  Wales,  was  taken  ill  at  the  house  of 
Paul  Bcvan,  in  Swansea,  and  there  he  departed  this  life,  on  the 
14th  of  2d  Month,  1749,  aged  67  years.  So  early  in  life  had 
he  entered  on  the  ministry,  that  he  had  been  engaged  in  it  for 
53  years,  and  had  travelled  in  that  service  when  only  17  years 
of  age,  with  Joseph  Kirkbride  and  Leonard  Fell.  He  was 
much  devoted  to  the  service  of  truth,  and  laboured  therein 
almost  incessantly  ;  and  as  he  lived,  so  he  died — a  pattern  of 
meekness  and  innocency.  («See  an  Account  of  his  Life  and 
Travels.    London^  1753.) 

In  1750,  Samuel  Fothergill  attended  the  National  Meeting  for 
Ireland,  held  in  Dublin,  and  in  1752  he  paid  another  visit  to  the 
city  of  Bristol.  In  most  of  these  years  he  attended  the  Yearly 
Meeting  in  London. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  JOHN. 

Warrington,  lOth  Mo.,  1750. 

I  am  sorry  to  find  thy  fears  respecting  the  improve- 
ment of  Friends,  where  I  have  been,  so  justly  founded ;  too 
little  proper  thoughtfulness  is  amongst  them ;  large  fortunes, 
and  religious  profession,  the  fruits  of  their  father's  industry  and 
real  experience,  have  had  an  unhappy  effect  upon  many  of  them, 
and  introduced  a  mixture  of  pride  and  indolence  that  is  no-ways 
consistent  with  inward  religious  growth,  to  which  the  far  greater 
part  of  them  are  no-way  attentive. 

Notwithstanding  the  deplorable  state  of  the  Church  there, 
yet  the  strong  reaches  of  inward  help  are  extended  towards 
them  ;  the  God  of  their  fathers  remembers  his  covenant 
made  with  them,  and  waits  to  bless  their  offspring  ;  by  the 
same  means,  the  righteous  in  every  age  have  been  made 
happy  ;  the  undoubted  sense  I  had  given  me  of  the  merciful 
regard  and  gracious  long-suffering  of  the  God  of  mercy^ 


jETAT.  34.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


Strongly  comforted  me;  yet  a  proportionate  fear  often  attended, 
lest  disregarded  visitations,  and  touches  of  inward  virtue  over- 
looked, might  issue  in  almost  total  subversion  of  a  people,  with 
whom  heavenly  favour  had  manifestly  dwelt.  My  soul  was 
often  strongly  moved  to  pay  them  a  visit  for  some  time  past, 
and  I  did  not  fully  give  up  to  it  until  the  sixth  day  evening 
before  I  wenl  ;  my  mind  was  quiet  and  easy,  as  I  was  resigned. 
I  had  a  quick  passage,  though  not  unattended  with  danger.  That 
the  hairs  of  my  head  were  numbered,  was  given  me  to  believe, 
and  that  beyond  a  doubt ;  I  said  with  reverence,  Good  is  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  was  as  calm  and  quiet  as  at  any  time  of 
my  religious  experience.  We  came  safe  to  Dublin.  The  meet- 
ing for  ministers  and  elders  was  held  on  4tli  day,  and  was 
very  small  and  poor  ;  the  meetings  for  worship  were  held  in 
the  forenoons  of  the  two  following  days,  and  the  meetings  for 
discipline  in  the  afternoons  of  the  same,  in  which  time  their 
business  was  finished. 

Their  discipline  is  just ;  nothing  inferior  to  ours  in  the  north, 
and  there  are  a  few  hands  that  are  strong  and  active  in  it,  and 
studious  to  render  it  effectual  to  answer  the  end  of  its  institution. 
The  appearance  of  Friends  from  Leinster  province  was  con- 
siderable ;  from  the  province  of  Ulster  only  four  Friends  ;  from 
the  province  of  Munster  not  one,  which  occasioned  a  hesitation 
in  the  opening  of  the  meeting  of  business,  whether  they  could 
proceed  to  act,  as  they  wanted  representatives  from  one-third  of 
their  body;  but  as  the  Munster  Friends  had  written  an  account 
of  the  state  of  their  province  to  the  National  Meeting,  it  was 
accepted,  and  Friends  were  easy  to  proceed. 

The  state  of  the  Church  gave  great  concern  to  many  there, 
and  a  warm,  affectionate  epistle  was  sent  to  the  Particular 
Meetings,  into  which  I  threw  a  few  things  that  had  some  weight 
with  me.  The  concluding  meeting  for  ministers  and  elders 
was  held  on  7th  day,  which  was  solemn  and  bowing ;  the 
enlivening,  encouraging  Presence  was  richly  manifested  to  a 
small  handful,  that  seemed  like  the  mournful  prophet  under  the 


118 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1750. 


juniper-tree,  and  like  the  small,  very  small  gleaning  of  the  vint- 
age. An  eminent  degree  of  the  same  heavenly  truth  attended 
us  the  next  morning,  at  our  public  concluding  meeting,  which 
was  extremely  large,  and  I  do  not  remember  ever  more  undoubt- 
ed proof  of  merciful  condescension.  Many  that  were  not  of  our 
name  were  there,  and  greatly  reached — remember  it,  oh  my 
soul,  with  due  reverence  and  gratitude  !  The  afternoon  was 
favoured  with  the  same  truth,  and  was  a  very  great  meeting. 
The  funeral  of  Francis  Russell,  our  father's  and  my  former 
landlord,  occasioned  it  to  be  an  excessive  crowd,  though  awful, 
and  very  quiet.  Meetings  every  day,  and  the  close,  heavy  air 
of  the  city,  had  destroyed  my  natural  abihties  ;  my  rest  and  ap- 
petite almost  gone,  I  was  obliged  that  evening  to  take  coach  and 
go  to  a  Friend's  country  house.  I  returned  much  better  next 
morning,  attended  the  quarterly  meeting  for  young  people  the 
same  day,  which  was  large  and  satisfactory.  Next  morning  I 
set  out  with  Samuel  Watson  and  Robert  Lecky  to  go  into  the 
country  — to  Kilconner,  to  see  Abigail  Watson,  who  is  poorly  in 
health,  but  lively  in  the  best  respects,  and  full  of  the  heavenly 
dew  of  her  youth.  She  mentioned  thee  often,  and  with  great 
esteem,  and  desired  her  dear  love  to  thee,  and  that  I  would  let 
thee  know  a  few  lines  from  thee  would  revive  her  much. 

On  my  return  to  Dublin,  I  went  to  see  some  other  sick 
Friends,  with  a  mind  filled  with  awful  reverence  for  mercies 
daily  renewed,  and  a  continued  sense  of  daily  support.  Spent 
a  space  of  time  with  some  Friends  at  John  Barclay's  on  3d  day, 
in  which  the  humbling  presence  united  us,  and  strong  cries 
ascended  for  mutual  preservation  in  his  fear  and  favour ;  his 
canopy  was  over  us,  and  he  led  us  to  his  banqueting-house. 
Afterwards  I  went  on  board,  and  after  forty-six  hours  at  sea, 
came  safe  to  Liverpool,  on  the  30th  ultimo. 

Thus,  my  dear  brother,  I  have  given  thee  a  recital  (pro- 
bably tedious)  of  a  few  weeks'  occurrences,  which  I  hope 
not  to  forget ;  I  have  reaped  benefit  myself,  and  I  hope 
others  likewise ;   faithfulness  is  the  way  to  profit,  and  to 


iETAT.  34.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


119 


renew  life  and  strength  ;  though  wc  are  weak  and  poor,  infinite 
strength  and  riches  liumbles  Himself  to  our  wants,  and  will 
ever  regard  us  with  mercy,  whilst  we  regard  him  with  sincerity. 

I  salute  thee,  and  dear  sister,  most  affectionately  ;  may  we  live 
to  Him  who  hath  inwardly  quickened  us,  that  the  blessing  of 
preservation  may  rest  upon  us  through  all  the  mazes  of  our 
probation,  to  an  inheritance  in  everlasting  quiet. 

I  am  yours,  in  union  more  near  than  the  ties  of  nature, 

S.  F. 

THOMAS  GREER  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Dungannon,  9th  Mo.,  18th,  1750, 

Glad  would  I  have  been  to  have  had  a  little  conversa- 
tion with  thee  when  in  Dublin,  at  the  late  National  Meeting  ; 
but  that  not  being  the  case,  I  now  write,  in  the  freedom  of  that 
love  that  in  thy  former  visit  to  this  nation  nearly  united  my  spi- 
rit to  thee,  for  which  I  have  been  many  times  thankful  to  the  Au- 
thor of  my  life,  in  that  he  was  graciously  pleased  (through  thy 
ministry)  to  make  such  an  impression  on  my  spirit  as  I  hope 
will  never  be  effaced.  Oh  !  may  I  never  forget  his  paternal 
care  over  me,  when,  equipped  with  the  wings  of  vanity,  I  was 
flying  into  folly  ;  even  then  was  he  pleased  to  speak,  in  a  lan- 
guage too  powerful  to  be  gainsayed — Young  man,  whither 
goest  thou  ?  May  it  indeed  be  engTaven  as  on  the  palms  of 
my  hands  ; — this  unparalleled  condescension,  may  it  ever  re- 
new in  me  a  humble  breathing  in  my  soul  that  he  may  be  pleas- 
ed so  to  strengthen  and  support  me  through  the  various  vicissi- 
tudes that  attend  this  life,  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  live  to  his 
honour,  for  which  great  purpose  I  am  satisfied  mankind  first 
had  and  have  their  existence  ;  but  alas  !  how  liable  is  depraved 
man  to  mistake  the  matter  of  greatest  importance,  and  choose 
rather  to  live  to  himself,  and  to  the  gratification  of  a  carnal,  de- 
generate mind,  than  to  the  glory  of  that  Being  that  formed  him, 
and  seeks  his  eternal  happiness. 


120 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1750. 


Much  hath  been  the  labour  of  love  that  has  been  bestowed 
upon  this  poor  unthankful  island,  and  many  have  been  the  faith- 
ful labourers  who  have  been  sent  amongst  us,  both  from  Eng- 
land and  other  parts,  for  which  favours  all  who  have  any  degree 
of  life  cannot  but  be  thankful  ;  also  for  its  being  put  into  thy 
heart  to  visit  us  at  the  late  half-year's  meeting,  at  this  time  of 
inward  poverty  and  affliction  of  mind  to  some  whose  faces  are, 
I  trust,  turned  Zionwards,  on  account  of  the  undue  liberty  tak- 
en by  many  of  the  youth  ;  and  the  love  of  the  world  and  earlh- 
ly-mindedness,  it  is  to  be  feared,  have  overtaken  many,  who, 
if  they  had  kept  their  places,  might  have  been  by  this  time  as 
stakes  in  Zion's  walls. 

May  the  design  of  an  all-wise  providence,  in  sending  thee 
amongst  us  at  this  time,  be  fully  answered,  by  every  one  who 
has  been  favoured  with  having  our  conditions  opened,  in  the 
demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with  power,  (for  certainly  the 
Gospel  trumpet  hath  given  a  certain  sound,)  becoming  so  wise 
as  to  repair  to  the  battle  

Thomas  Greer. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  THOMAS  GREfiR. 

Warrington,  11th  Mo.,  20,  1750. 

1  received  in  Dublin  a  letter  from  thee,  which 
gave  me  satisfaction ;  and  I  rejoice  in  this,  that  the  Lord  of 
heaven  and  earth  is  visiting  by  his  truth  and  working  by  his 
power  to  beget  into  his  heavenly  family)  and  bless  people 
with  that  which  conveys  all  the  happiness  mankind  ever 
did,  must  now,  or  hereafter  ever  can  taste.  Too  many  are 
insensible  of  it,  and  others  too  lazy  to  be  religious  as  they 
ought ;  but  it  is  our  interest  to  pursue  our  own  peace,  and 
•■ransmit  to  others  examples,  how  great  and  excellent  a  thing 
it  is  to  be  true  subjects  of  Christ's  kingdom,  and  baptized 
into  his  nature,  and  therein  to  abide.      Great  has  been  his 


jETAT.  35.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  121 

mercy,  in  visiting  our  souls  with  his  blessed  truth ;  and  it  highly 
behoves  us  to  watch  with  all  diligence  let  we  render  it  frustrate. 
This  is  our  duty — to  look  to  him  daily.  This  comprehends  all. 
Here  is  our  strcuglh  and  safety ;  other  stays,  or  temporary 
lielps,  will  fail,  and  leave  us  destitute  and  inwardly  lean.  Oh  ! 
therefore,  remember  often  the  dew  of  thy  youth,  the  tenderness 
of  thy  heart  when  first  met  with.  Cherish  in  thy  soul  the  fresh 
instances  of  regard  ;  and  be  it  thy  care  inwardly  to  look  and 
live  to  the  Lord  ;  so  shall  thy  hands  be  made  strong,  and  thy 
head  kept  above  the  waters.  There  is  a  spirit  that  is  gone  forth 
into  the  camp,  and  is  splendidly  delusive.  Tt  delights  in  good 
words,  and  feeds  upon  them  ;  it  cries  out,  "  Help,  help,"  but 
principall}''  to  the  servant,  not  to  the  Master.  This  spirit  leads 
into  notions  ;  it  snuffs  up  the  wind,  and  lives  in  commotions 
itself  raises  ;  all  that  are  led  by  it  are  superficial  and  know 
nothing,  and  must  lie  down  in  sorrow.  That  Holy  Spirit,  which 
was  and  is  the  ground  of  truth  for  ever,  (which,  I  trust,  has 
reached  thy  heart,)  is  a  substantial,  operative  principle  ;  its  di- 
rections are  not  imaginary,  nor  its  doctrines  loose  and  indeter- 
minate ;  but  it  is  light  and  life  to  its  possessors,  and  causes 
them  to  inherit  substance ;  it  teaches  access  in  heart  to  that 
God  whose  attributes  cannot  be  defined  fully  ;  but  experience 
teaches  them  it  is  kind  to  men,  supplying  their  wants,  support- 
ing their  steps,  opening  their  understanding  to  those  Divine 
truths  that  are  higher  than  human  wisdom  can  trace,  and  deeper 
than  all  its  penetration  can  explore.  Dear  friend,  let  us  wait 
for  this  wisdom  ;  let  this  Spirit  be  leaned  upon  above  all ;  this 
will  help  us  to  stand  upright,  and  walk  steadily  in  the  faith  de- 
livered to  the  saints  ;  retirement  will  be  pleasant ;  in  meetings 
and  out  of  meetings,  the  inward  feeling  after  Divine  power,  to 
live  and  act  to  God's  honour  and  our  own  preservation,  will 
be  dear  and  precious  to  us  ;  and  He  that  delights  to  hear  the 
language  of  his  children  will  not  be  slack  in  the  performance  of 
his  gracious  promises.    I  found  the  free  salutation  of  pure  love 

in  my  heart  towards  thee  ;  and  earnestly  entreat  thee  to  abide 
17 


122  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1751  ~ 

Steadfast  in  tlie  truth  ;  feel  after  it ;  live  in  it ;  hope  for  its  sal- 
vation, and  it  will  never  fail.  I  salute  thee  in  the  love  and  af- 
fection of  Christ,  our  holy  and  blessed  helper,  and  remain  thy 
faithful  friend, 

S.  F. 

MARY  PEISLEY*  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Paddock,  lllh  Mo.,  28,  1750. 

Thy  lines  carry  with  them  the  reaching,  convincing  evi- 
dence of  that  soft,  sympathetic  union,  to  which  the  world  are 
strangers  :  they  neither  know  nor  intermeddle  with  these  joys, 
the  feeling  sense  of  which,  when  I  received  thy  letter,  melted 
my  heart  into  tenderness,  and  bowed  my  spirit  in  reverence  be- 
fore the  God  and  Father  of  all  mercies,  to  reflect  that  he,  the  high 
and  holy  One,  who  inhabits  eternity,  should  condescend  to  the 
low  estate  of  his  poor  unworthy  handmaid,  to  bring  her  into 
the  glorious  fellowship  which  is  with  him  and  his  dear  Son,  a 
secret  union  and  communion  with  the  saints  in  light ;  that  I,  the 
least  of  them  all,  should  be  made  a  sensible  partaker  of  these 
blessed  privileges,  and  be  made  present  in  spirit  with  his  dear 
servants,  though  absent  in  body.  Oh  !  may  I,  during  the  resi- 
due of  my  weary  pilgrimage  here,  walk  more  worthy  of  the 
vocation  appointed  me,  so  that,  with  the  Lord's  chosen  servants, 
I  may  finish  my  course  with  joy. 

It  gave  me  concern  to  hear  of  thy  indisposition,  which  I 
do  not  wonder  at,  considering  thy  labours  amongst  us  ;  but 
humbly  hope  thou  wilt  be  spared,  and  raised  up  for  future 
service,  to  which  ma}'est  thou  be  made  truly  willing  in  the 
day  of  God's  power,  thougli  it  must  be  confessed  it  is  a 
dangerous  and  difficult  time  to  go  a  warfare  in  ;  but  it  is  not 

*  Mary  Peisley  was  a  well-esteemed  minister.  She  visited  America  in 
company  with  Catharine  Payton.  She  was  subsequently  married  to  Samuel 
Neale,  and  three  days  afterwards,  viz.  on  the  20th  of  3d  Mo.,  1757,  sho 
departed  this  life. 


iETAT.  35.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  123 

at  our  own  expense,  for  greater  is  He  that  is  in  and  witli  us 
than  he  that  is  in  the  world. 

Do,  dear  friend,  write  freely ;  and  if  thou  hast  observed  any 
thing  in  my  conduct  that  thou  thinkest  reprovable,  do  not  spare 
me,  for  I  know  that  I  want  help. 

Mary  Peisley. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  CATHARINE  PAYTON.* 

Warrington,  3d  Mo.,  1751. 

I  received  thy  brother's  letter,  intimating  thy  thoughts 
of  going  over  to  the  Half  Year's  Meeting,  at  Dublin,  and  I 
sincerely  wish  thee  a  good  journey,  and  pray  that  the  preserving 
hand  may  ever  sustain  thee,  and  keep  thee  dependent  upon 
himself :  by  no  other  means  are  we  likely  to  be  kept  properly ; 
and  various  humbling  times  attend  the  true  faithful  labour- 
ers in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  that  keep  company  with  the  true 
seed,  in  suffering,  and  only  reign  by  it ;  the  applause  of  the 
injudicious  has  hurt  some,  and  greatly  embarrassed  many,  in 
that  kingdom ;  and,  therefore,  keep  thy  eye  single.  As  the 
Lord  has  given  thee  a  good  gift,  and  intruHled  thee  with  several 
talents,  thou  art  loudly  called  upon  to  diligent  improvement, 
and  that  can  only  be  by  virtue  of  the  renewing  of  strength  from 
his  hand,  and  holy  feeding  at  his  table ;  thus  thou  wilt  be 
preserved  in   dominion  over  all  that  which  would  lift  up, 

*  For  many  years  an  intimate  friendship  and  frequent  correspondence 
was  maintained  between  S-  Fothergill  and  Catharine  Payton.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Ann  Payton,  of  Dudley.  When  about  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  she  came  forth  in  the  ministry,  and  in  the  exercise  of 
this  gift  travelled  much,  in  most  parts  of  England  and  Scotland ; 
also  in  Ireland,  America,  and  Holland.  In  1772  she  was  married  to 
"William  Phillips,  of  Cornwall,  and  died  in  that  county,  in  the  8th  month, 
1791,  aged  G8  years,  a  minister  4G  years — Sec  Memoirs  of  her  Life- 
London,  1797. 


124 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1752. 


and  over  that  which  would  cast  down,  and  the  name  of  our 
jealous  God  will  be  honoured,  and  the  gain  consecrated  to  him. 
And,  dear  Kitty,  bear  thy  testimony  against  haughtiness  and 
luxury,  by  a  humble,  watchful  conduct ;  be  not  led  by  them 
out  of  the  loadings  of  truth,  in  the  appointment  of  large  meet- 
ings in  court  houses,  &c.,  for,  in  this  respect,  I  am  sensible 
there  is  some  danger,  unless,  really,  the  very  burden  of  the 
word  be  upon  thee,  and  I  would  by  no  means  have  the  faithful 
labourer  in  that  ability  discouraged.  I  would  have  thee  to  be 
tender  in  the  choice  of  a  companion  ;  if  one  fall  to  thy  share, 
let  her  be  one  to  help  spiritually,  and  not  to  hinder  thee  by  any 
disagreeable  demeanour.  My  affection  strongly  attends,  and 
craves  the  presence  of  Almighty  God  may  be  thy  guard  and 
companion  ;  live  in  it,  seek  after  the  enlargement  of  it,  by 
waiting  for  daily  sustenance  from  it ;  and  the  God  of  my  hfe 
keep  us  both  chaste  in  our  mind,  to  him  whose  we  are,  and 
ought  to  serve  with  the  spirit  of  our  minds. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  JOHN. 

Warrington,  7lh  Mo.,  14th,  1751. 

 Yesterday  I  attended  the  funeral  of  Peter 

Leadbeater,  of  Chester,  who,  by  a  fall  on  third  day,  fractured 
his  skull,  and  died  next  day — a  man  in  many  respects  worthy 
and  useful,  and  let  his  imperfections  be  buried  with  him. 

There  was  the  greatest  crowd  I  remember  to  have  seen  on 
such  an  occasion,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  we  got  to  the 
burying-place,  I  received  a  crush  in  my  breast,  in  the  throng, 
I  am  afraid  won't  soon  be  forgotten. 

 I  join  thee  in  thankful  acknowledgments  to  the 

Author  of  good,  for  his  signal  favour  in  owning  those  large 
assemblies  with  his  powerful  truth,  to  the  comfort  of  the 
faithful,  and  the  exaltation  of  his  name  amongst  the  people. 
Oh  !  that  the  sense  of  general   and  particular  favours  may 


^TAT.  36.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


123 


be  often  revived  in  our  minds,  that  our  souls  may  be  quickened 
in  care  to  walk  worthy.  Nothing  ought  to  be  allowed  in  us 
that  leads  to  forget  that  hand  that  is  filled  with  blessings,  ready 
lo  dispense  them,  but  expects  grateful  returns. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  SARAH  BROWN.* 

Warrington,  1st  Mo.,  20th,  1752. 

I  doubt  not  but  the  same  conveyance  that  brings -this, 
will  bring  some  account  of  thy  dear  and  worthy  father,  whom 
I  saw  at  Liverpool,  on  his  way  to  Ireland,  a  few  weeks  ago,  in 
pretty  good  health,  and  alive  and  cheerful  in  his  labour,  in 
which  he  has  been  closely  concerned,  and  I  hope  to  good  ser- 
vice in  divers  respects  ;  doubtless  to  his  own  great  peace,  and 
uniting  him  in  heart  to  the  faithful. 

In  the  freedom  we  had  to  each  other,  he  imparted  to  me  one 
or  two  of  thy  affectionate  letters  to  him,  which  seemed  to  breathe 
strongly  of  the  language  of  tender  affection  to  him,  and  an  awful 
regard  to  the  Heavenly  Father,  and  has  been  the  means  of  thy 
being  often  in  my  very  near  remembrance,  and  some  desire 
attended  to  send  thee  the  salutation  of  true  love  in  Christ  Jesus, 
our  holy  head,  in  whom  stands  the  fellowship  of  the  family,  the 
world  over.  Great  has  been  thy  advantage,  dear  friend,  in 
being  descended  from  worthy  parents,  who,  by  example  and 
precept,  have  sought  thy  nurture  and  growth  in  the  things  of 
God  ;  the  visitation  of  heavenly  light  and  life  has  also  been 
extended,  and  I  hope  in  a  great  and  good  degree  embraced,  and 
has  pointed  out  the  means  of  help,  or  the  terms  of  happiness, 
and  inclined  thy  heart  to  seek  it. 

Many  are  the  besetmeiits  and  probations  of  a  mind  awakened 
to  seek  an  inheritance  among  the  blessed,  and  of  various 
kinds  they  are ;  but  the  mighty  arm  is  revealed  and  made 


•  Daugliter  of  William  Brown,  from  America. 


126 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1752. 


bare,  for  all  those  that  refuse  to  be  comforted  without  it. 
Many  are  the  low  places  the  righteous  tread,  and  in  the  line 
of  their  experience  deep  answers  deep  ;  some  are  brought 
upon  us  through  our  inadvertency  and  negligence  ;  let  us  then 
inquire  the  cause,  and  remove  it ;  sometimes  the  heavens  are 
made  like  brass  to  us,  to  teach  us  how  to  want,  and,  like  winter 
seasons,  to  strengthen  our  roots,  that  we  grow  not  top  heavy  ; 
but  in  all  things  our  Heavenly  Father  deals  with  us  tenderly, 
and  for  our  good. 

Let,  therefore,  thy  attention  be  steady  to  him  for  counsel 
and  guidance,  and  he  will  not  forsake  thee  in  the  time  of  thy 
secret  bewailings,  but  spread  a  table  for  thee  in  the  desert. 
Oh  !  that  our  youth  might  thus  awfully  bow  under  the  opera- 
tion of  the  Lord's  hand,  that  their  minds  might  be  subject  to 
him,  whose  we  are,  and  whom  we  ought  to  serve  in  the 
spirit  of  our  minds.  I  feel  in  my  mind  the  sympathy  of  the 
blessed  covenant,  and  the  spreading  of  the  Father's  wing 
towards  thee,  and  crave  of  the  Almighty  One  to  have  thee  in 
his  keeping,  and  of  thee  never  to  forfeit  it  by  any  means. 
He  is  all-sufficient  to  abide  with  thee  continually. 

He  is  often  with  his  people  when  they  perceive  it  not : 
he  dwells  in  thick  darkness  often,  and  was  as  certainly  the 
mighty  help  of  Israel,  when  they  groaned  in  anguish  in  the 
land  of  Egypt,  as  when  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the 
temple,  at  the  feast  of  dedication.  I  commend  thee  to  him, 
seek  him  diligently,  serve  him  honestly,  and  follow  on  to 
know  his  requirings,  with  full  purpose  of  heart  to  be  faithful 
thereto  ;  and  no  weapon  formed  against  thee  will  prosper, 
nor  any  place  be  allotted  so  low  in  which  the  omnipotent 
arm  will  not  sustain. 

S.  F. 


JETAT.  36.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


127 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  4th  Mo.,  20th,  1752. 

 I  often  make  myself  a  party  in  idea  in  your 

converse,  and  with  pleasure  I  anticipate  the  satisfaction  arising 
from  a  personal  interview.  Friendship,  founded  on  its  proper 
stable  foundation,  doubtless  affords  the  most  sublime  sensible 
joy  we  are  capable  of  tasting  here,  and  is  an  agreeable  earnest 
of  that  vmion  that  inseparably  connects  the  blessed  spirits  above. 
Oh  !  beloved  sister,  how  glorious  is  the  prospect,  but  how  dif- 
ficult the  means  !  But  no  cross,  no  crown  ;  and  in  our  Father's 
arm  is  everlasting  strength. 

  I  have  had  much  to  sympathise  with  thee  in  thy 

present  religious  circumstances,  and  it  has  revived  in  my  mind, 
in  joyous  suffering,  to  endeavour  after  a  peaceable,  childlike 
submission  to  the  Heavenly  Father's  will ;  to  lie  down  at  his 
feet,  in  deep,  resigned  silence,  even  from  complaint,  has  made 
more  for  true  ease,  and  helped  to  a  profitable  search  into  our- 
selves and  Heaven's  mind. 

I  believe  much  deep  travail  attends  thee,  and  an  apprehension 
of  being  almost  alone.  Discourage  not  thyself  at  this,  nor  pain 
thyself  unnecessarily  about  others  ;  let  thine  eye  be  in  thy  head 
and  to  thy  Helper,  and  his  will  thy  standard ;  neither  be  dis- 
couraged, beloved  sister,  at  the  low  times  thou  meets  with ;  for 
I  am  fully  satisfied  that  even  the  strong  men  are  often  bowed 
down  deeply  ;  and  shall  the  tender  plant  repine  at  being  shook 
by  the  wind?  The  faithfulness  of  unchangeable  help  is  such, 
as  to  render  us  safe  in  his  protection,  while  we  seek  to  abide 
in  it. 

S.  F. 


128 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1752. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL   TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

Warrington,  1752. 

I  have  by  no  means  forgotten  ihee ;  thou  art  too 
deeply  fixed  in  nny  mind  to  be  easily  displaced.  Thy  aflfec- 
tionate,  instructive  epistle  from  Cumberland,  hath  been  often  a 
means  of  bringing  thee  near  to  my  soul,  and  it  into  a  reverent 
search  and  jealous  care  to  move  right  when  I  can  move,  and 
endeavour  to  stand  safe  at  all  times  by  standing  out  of  my  own 
abilities  and  in  that  which  comes  from  God. 

 And  now,  my  dear  friend,  I  must  inform  thee  of  the 

principal  reason  of  my  long  silence,  and  the  discontinuance  of 
my  correspondence.  I  have  had,  since  my  return  from  Nor- 
wich, a  very  baptizing  lime  of  inward  distress  and  want,  and 
been  brought  very  low  in  mind,  even  sometimes  almost  to  ques- 
tion whether  I  had  ever  been  right,  or  should  ever  be  happy.  I 
ever  kept  my  complaint  secret,  and  my  mouth  in  the  dust,  under 
the  correction  of  my  Heavenly  Father's  rod  ;  and  he  sometimes 
revives  a  httle  hope.  In  this  time  of  solitary  distress,  I  have 
observed  some  causes  of  chastisement,  and  hope  of  more  sta- 
bility and  faithfulness  has  attended.  To  sing  I  could  not ;  to 
complain  I  durst  not ;  to  write  of  religious  things  was  passing 
beyond  the  line  of  present  experience,  and  that  is  sacrilege.  I 
know  thee  so  well  as  to  be  assured  thou  could  not  relish  such  a 
correspondent  ;  however,  I  have  often  remembered  thee  nearly, 
and  my  spirit  being  so  closely  touched  with  secret  sympathy 
with  thee,  has  been  some  evidence  that  my  life  is  not  altogether 
gone.  I  salute  thee  and  Mary  Peisley,  when  thou  sees  her, 
most  affectionately,  and  am  thy  friend  and  companion  in  the 
tribulations,  and,  may  God  grant  it,  the  patience  of  the  gospel. 

S.  F. 


^TAT.  36.] 


OF   SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


129 


JOHN  CHURCHMAN*  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Moate,  8th  Mo.,  13th,  1752. 

When,  by  the  secret  touches  of  truth,  we  are  made 
to  feel  and  know  each  other,  though  to  the  outward  entire 
strangers,  there  is  a  foundation  of  friendship  laid  which  is  not 
easily  erased  ;  'tis  hereby  we  know  ourselves  to  be  members 
one  of  another,  and  cannot  help  at  times  remembering  each 
other,  in  the  participation  of  the  true  communion ;  and  the 
humble  address  of  our  souls  is,  that  oui'selves  and  our  brethren 
may  be  preserved  pure,  and,  as  w^orthy  communicants,  pre- 
sented before  the  holy  table,  cleansed  from  the  spots  of  the 
world,  and  all  the  crooked  wrinkles  of  self.  We  then  have  no 
thoughts  of  asking  dignities  for  ourselves,  or  for  one  another,  as 
to  sit  on  the  right  hand  or  on  the  left,  but  to  be  preserved  in 
innocency,  and  to  have  our  names  written,  yea,  recorded,  in  the 
Lamb's  book  of  life ;  an  inheritance  to  such  is  sure  in  life  eter- 
nal, if  they  continue  faithful  unto  death. 

When  we  are  humbled  before  our  great  Master,  in  a  sense 
that  his  love  is  lengthened  out  to  his  Church  and  people,  we 
are  made  willing  to  follow  him  in  the  way  of  our  own  duty  whi- 
thersoever he  leads  us ;  and  good  it  is  to  mind  our  own  busi- 
ness properly,  without  thinking  ourselves  too  much  alone  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord,  and  others  too  negligent ;  or  inquiring  too 
busily  into  the  gifts  of  one,  or  be  too  much  concerned  what  an- 
other shall  do.  These  dispositions  seemed  to  be  gently  both 
reprehended  and  instructed  by  our  Lord,  in  his  answers  to  well- 

»  John  Churchman,  of  East  Nottingham,  in  Pennsylvania,  a  Friend  well 
known  by  the  published  account  of  his  life  and  gospel  labours.  In  the  year 
1750,  accompanied  by  William  Brown,  he  arrived  in  England,  on  a  reli- 
gious visit  to  this  nation,  also  visiting  Ireland  and  Holland.  This  occupied 
him  nearly  four  years  ;  and  in  1754  he  returned  to  his  native  land.  He 
died  on  the  24th  of  7th  Mo.,  1775,  aged  near  70,  a  minister  about  42  years. 
18 


130 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1752. 


meaning  Martha,  when  she  said,  Bid  her  lhat  she  help  me,  and 
to  Peter,  on  his  query.  What  shall  this  man  do  ? 

But  when  the  baptizing  virtue  and  power  of  Truth  oversha- 
dows our  souls,  we  cannot  help  desiring  that  the  people  may 
keep  their  ranks,  and,  in  sanctification  of  both  body  and  spirit, 
stand  prepared  that  the  Lord  may  choose  and  instruct,  gift  and 
qualify,  judges,  counsellors,  rulers,  and  chiefs,  both  in  the  min- 
istry of  the  Word,  and  in  the  discipline  of  his  Church. 

I  have  been  confined  to  my  room  for  more  than  ten  days,  by 
reason  of  a  great  cold,  taken,  I  suppose,  in  the  north,  in  damp 
houses  and  cold  beds,  but,  through  the  tender  mercy  of  kind 
Providence,  am  in  a  fair  way  of  recovery.  The  respite  from 
travelling  and  immediate  exercise  has  been  as  a  rest  to  my  spirit, 
which  has  been  preserved,  resigned,  and  mostly  quiet.  I  have 
often  sought  to  know  mine  own  imperfections,  and  have  been 
favoured  with  a  sight  of  several  things  concerning  myself  and  my 
brethren  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry ;  methought  I  had 
a  renewed  glimpse  of  the  holy  attire  with  which  the  attendants 
at  the  holy  altar  should  perpetually  stand  arrayed  ;  the  vest- 
ments are  holy,  the  garments  clothe  the  spirit,  and  the  adorning 
is  beautiful,  and  never  waxes  old;  it  is  girt  about  the  loins  of 
the  new  man,  and  loosely  laid  aside  when  immediate  service 
seems  over ;  it  is  bound  in  the  heart,  and  coupled  in  the  soul. 
Oh  !  let  this  Urim  and  Thummim  be  for  ever  with  the  Holy 
One,  and  by  him  renewed  to  his  children. 

Dear  Samuel,  the  near  sympathy  which  arose  at  first  sight, 
and  silent  salutation  that  made  the  inward  birth  move,  has 
often  been  brought  to  my  remembrance  ;  and,  pursuant  to  the 
solemn  covenant  between  us  soon  after  our  first  acquaint- 
ance in  thy  brother  John's  little  parlour,  I  have  found  a 
great  freedom  to  act  towards  thee  as  an  unreserved,  open- 
hearted  friend,  and  shall,  therefore,  add  a  little  further.  In 
a  feeling  sense  of  Divine  goodness,  my  soul  has  been  humbled 
on  thy  account,  that  the  Lord,  in  the  riches  of  his  sure 
mercies,  did  vouchsafe  to  pluck  thee  from  the  fire,  and 


.^TAT.  3C.] 


OP  SAMtTEL  POTHERGILL. 


13i 


quench  the  darts  that  were  shot  at  thy  soul,  and  by  hfting 
thine  eyes  to  himself^  healed  thy  wounds,  and  chose  thee  as 
a  vessel  for  his  use,  and  for  an  instrument  to  publish  his  name 
and  proclaim  his  light  and  salvation  to  the  Gentiles;  and  it 
sprang  in  my  heart,  in  much  brotherly  affection,  to  say.  Prize 
thy  privilege,  mind  thy  calling,  for  it  is  high  and  holy  ;  watch 
against  the  world,  that  it  do  not  clog  thee  ;  with  the  spirit  there- 
of be  not  too  familiar  ;  there  are  that  pretend  to  be  children  of 
the  light,  who  are  lying  in  wait  to  gain  the  friendship  of  those 
whom  the  Lord,  by  the  indwelling  of  his  word,  has  made  as  a 
flame  against  those  who  reside  in  the  Mount  of  Esau  ;  and  coals 
from  their  mouths  have  kindled  in  the  hidden  treasure  of  these 
Worldlings  and  libertines,  and  begun  to  burn  in  their  hearts,  and 
they  have  sought  the  friendship  of  such,  and  sometimes,  when 
gained,  they  have  valued  themselves,  and  have  smothered  the 
fire,  and  continued  in  their  corruptions. 

Oh  !  the  awful  authority,  the  becoming  sweetness,  the  instruc- 
tive mien,  the  beseeming  gesture,  with  which  Truth  arrays  her 
votaries,  far  surpassing  all  our  modern  polite  and  worldly  gen- 
teel airs. 

With  the  salutation  of  love,  thy  real  Friend, 

Jo£iN  Churchman. 

JOHN  KENDALL*  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Colchester,  8th  Mo.  ]7lh,  1752. 

I  am  but  just  returned  from  my  journey  in  Holland 
and  Gerniany>,  and  may  acquaint  thee,  that  we  had  divers 

*  The  Friends  who  were  accompanied  by  John  Kendall,  during  this 
visit  to  Holland,  were  William  Brown  and  Samuel  Neale.  John  Ken- 
dall was  a  Friend  well  known,  both  as  a  useful  member  of  the  Socie- 
ty, and  as  a  writer,  having  published  several  works.  Besides  the  occa- 
sion here  mentioned,  he  also  paid  four  other  visits  to  Holland  on 
religious  service.  He  died  at  Colchester  in  1815,  at  the  advanced  a^e  o(. 
99  year!5,  a  minister  about  67  years. 


132 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1753. 


comfortable  opportunities  with  the  few  Friends  in  those  parts  of 
the  world,  and  had  great  satisfaction  in  our  visit  to  them,  finding 
a  people  unto  whom  the  visitations  of  our  heavenly  Father 
seemed  particularly  extended,  and  such  likewise  as  have  an- 
swered the  call,  and  are  become  as  testimony-bearers  for  the 
name  and  truth  of  God  ;  these  we  hope  the  Lord  will  yet  fur- 
ther strengthen,  and  qualify  as  instruments  in  his  hand,  to  pro- 
mote his  glorious  cause  ;  yea,  we  expect  the  primitive  lustre  of 
our  Zion  shall  yet  in  some  degree  be  revived  in  that  land,  though 
certainly  there  is  a  mixture,  through  the  unwearied  adversary, 
who  has  come  as  in  the  night,  and  sown  tares  among  the  good 
seed.  Our  hearts  were  enlarged  in  great  love  at  times,  and  a 
concern  begotten  for  the  growth  of  the  true  seed,  and  for  right 
birth,  wherein  we  laboured  according  to  the  ability  received,  and 
have  found  the  answer  of  peace,  which  abundantly  repays. 

John  Kendall. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

Warrington,  1753. 

Thine  of  the  14th,  I  this  morning  received,  and  hast- 
en to  tell  thee,  I  wanted  much  to  know  where  thou  wert,  that  I 
might  send  thee  a  short  salutation  of  love  unfeigned,  which  has 
often,  and  of  late  more  dail)^,  lived  in  and  flowed  forth  of  my 
heart  towards  thee.  I  received  thy  acceptable,  profitable 
letter,  from  Moate,  which  I  acknowledged  soon  after,  which 
probably  came  not  to  thy  hand ;  if  it  did  not,  the  loss  is  trivial 
to  thee,  though  important  to  me,  as  it  has  probably  deprived  me 
of  some  further  indication  of  thy  regard  and  good  desires  for 
me.  I  am  humbly  and  reverently  thankful,  in  that  I  feel  the 
unity  of  the  brotherhood ;  it  is  very  dear  to  me.  I  am,  and 
have  been,  in  a  low,  humbling  dispensation,  in  which  that  union 
has  been  almost  my  sole  evidence  and  mark  that  I  was  not  far 
out  of  my  way. 

I  desire  to  accept,  at  the  heavenly  Father's  hand,  ray 


<ETAT.  37.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


133 


portion ;  I  know  it  is,  and  will  be  right,  and  in  due  season,  though 
I  may  sometimes  almost  murmur  and  repine,  yet  that  adds  to 
my  anxiety.  I  have  had  some  weighty  hints,  for  years,  about 
a  piece  of  labour,  which  makes  me  tremble  ;  and,  in  short,  my 
way  to  true  settlement  seems  to  lie  through  thy  country.  I  now 
stand  resigned,  and  only  beg — Put  forth,  and  go  before  me,  O 
Israel's  Shepherd,  and  I  will  follow  in  thy  strength,  believing 
in  the  all-sufficiency  of  a  never-failing  arm. 

I  am  sensibly  touched  with  thy  observation  of  making 
poor  wages  in  Ireland.  Alas  !  my  friend,  can  we  expect  to 
flow  with  wealth  when  the  church  is  in  poverty,  and  the  priests 
of  Zion  in  heaviness  ?  Our  sympathy  will  lead  us  to  mourn, 
and  our  heads  will  be  covered  with  ashes  instead  of  crowns. 
The  ministers  of  our  Lord  cannot  expect  to  be  above  their 
Lord  ;  he  was  crowned  with  thorns  for  us,  and  so  must  we  be 
for  his  visited  seed.  But  this  thou  knows  better  than  I,  though 
I  am  not  destitute  of  some  experience,  which,  1  bless  the  God 
of  my  life,  I  find  to  increase  and  flow  from  patience  in  tribula- 
tion. 

Assure  thyself,  my  dear  friend,  thy  correspondence  is  to 
me  very  grateful  and  profitable,  and  when  the  cords  of  Divine 
love  draw  thy  mind  towards  me,  be  open  in  counsel,  admonition, 
or  reproof ;  I  want  such  friends,  and  value  them  verv  greatly. 
Accept  the  salutation  of  dear  love,  in  the  fresh  renewings  of 
quickening  virtue,  which  reaches  freely  forth  to  all  the  ser- 
vants of  Christ,  as  a  divine  odour,  for  which  the  true  virgins 
love  him — from  thy  friend  and  brother  in  the  labour  and  suff"er- 
ing  of  and  for  the  gospel, 

S.  F. 

JOHN  CHURCHMAN  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Woodhouse,  3d  Mo.,  17,  1753. 

It  was  very  reviving  to  me  to  receive  those  few 
lines  from  thee,  for  I  think  the  remembrance  and  love  of  the 
brethren   seems  more  and  more  precious  to  me,  though  I 


134 


Memoirs  and  letters 


[1753. 


think  that  I  grow  but  slowly  in  my  passage  from  death  to 
life.  Tiiose  few  hints  that  thou  givest,  that  thy  road  to  a  true 
settlement  leads  through  our  country,  are  no  way  unpleasant  to 
me,  and  are  safe  in  the  bosom  of  thy  friend  ;  yet  I  can  hardly 
help  saying;  Hide  it  as  a  precious  seed  or  root  in  thy  garden,  as 
much  as  may  be.  I  have  seen  the  growth  of  choice  things  re- 
tarded, by  opening  the  earth  to  show  others  what  seed  oi' 
root  has  been  there  planted  ;  but  if  they  are  let  alone,  and  not 
trod  loo  much  upon  by  man  or  beast,  in  due  time  they  sprout 
and  break  forth  witli  beauty  and  strength. 

I  do  not  expect  to  return  before  1754  :  if  I  should  live  to  see 
that  happy  day,  with  the  smiles  of  my  Master,  to  have  one,  like 
flesh  and  bone  of  one's  flesh  and  bone,  for  an  intimate,  in  a  moving 
jail,  (to  which  I  must  be  committed  before  1  can  be  proclaimed 
free  in  my  native  air,)  affords  a  contemplative  delight  not  easy  to 
express. 

John  Churchman. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  SAMUEL  WATSON. 
On  the  Death  or  his  Wife.* 

Warrington,  7th  Mo.,  7th,  1753. 

1  affectionately  salute  thee  in  the  fresh  renewings 
of  that  near  union   in  which  our  acquaintance  commencedj 

*  Samuel  Watson,  of  Kilconner,  in  the  county  of  Carlovv,  "  suc- 
"  ceeded  his  ancient  and  honourable  father,  John  Watson,  of  the 
"  same  place,  not  only  in  his  outward  possessions  there,  but  in  a 
"  zealous  concern  for  the  testimon)'-  of  truth,  and  support  of  its 
"  cause."  He  was  a  friend  of  great  use  and  service  many  ways, 
particularly  in  meetings  for  discipline,  which  he  attended  with 
exemplary  diligence.  "  Often,  under  the  fresh  influence  of  the 
"  divine    anointing,  he    was   enabled  to   drop  living    counsel    to  the 

affecting  and  tendering  many  hearts,  and  to  raise  that  life  in  meet' 
"  ings  for  discipline  which  alone  is  the  crown  of  all  our  religious 
"  assemblies."  "  In  religious  visits  to  the  families  of  friends,  he  was 
"  often  eminently  favoured,  and  opened  in  suitable  counsel,  in  an 
"  extraordinary  manner ;    strong  and  fervent  were  his  desires,  that 


^TAT.  37.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


135 


and  in  which  thou  hast  often  been  brought  of  late  into  my 
remembrance,  and  particularly  since  the  loss  of  thy  late  worthy 
companion  and  mij  dear  friend. 

To  consider  an  ancient  person,  who  had  long  enjoyed  the 
happiness  of  a  help-meet,  in  a  temporal,  and  eminently  so  in  a 
religious  sense,  divested  of  that  principal  sublunary  aid  in 
advanced  age — its  satisfaction  taken  away  by  the  loss  of  a  dear 
companion,  and  a  comfortable  auxiliary  in  a  joint  spiritual 
labour — must  immediately  furnish  painful  reflections.  Never- 
theless, as  the  everlasting  spring  of  all  true  peace  and  holy 
ease  abides  unchangeably  the  same,  and,  through  all  the  nmta- 
tions  attending  us,  He  varies  not — in  him,  in  him  let  our  fresh 
springs  be  fixed,  and  he  will  reveal  his  glorious  sufficiency  to 
supply  all  our  wants  ;  he  will  reward  his  faithful  afflicted  ser- 
vants with  a  stay  in  their  various  conflicts,  and  whh  a  staff"  in 
old  age.  He  whom  Jacob  worshipped  leaning  on  the  top  of 
his  staff",  whom  Moses  served,  and  whom  afflicted  Job  remem- 
bered in  his  troubles,  will,  I  question  not,  be  near  for  thy  pre- 
sent help  to  live  and  labour,  and  for  strength  to  preserve  to  the 
end  of  thy  days.  01),  let  not  the  decline  of  life  be  obscured 
with  a  diminution  of  holy  zeal,  that  so  the  heavenly  crown  may 
be  sure.  I  mention  my  humble  petition,  not  from  doubt,  but 
anxious  desire  for  thy  glorious  issue  and  present  profitable 
labour  for  the  help  of  a  people  withering  and  declining  in  some 
places. 

I  request  thy  acceptance  of  a  narrative  of  some  part  of  dear 

"  the  youth  amongst  us  might  dedicate  their  hearts  fully  to  the  service  of 
"  God,  that  there  might  be  a  succession  of  faithful  members  in  the  church, 
"  whereof  Christ  is  the  head,  following  the  ancients  in  that  self-denying 
"  path  in  which  they  had  walked."  "  He  departed  this  life  in  peace,  at  his 
"  own  house,  at  Kilconner,  the  14th  of  5th  Mo.,  1762,  aged  76  years." 
His  wife,  Abigail  Watson,  formerly  Abigail  Bowles,  was  an  eminent  and 
experienced  minister  :  she  travelled  much  in  the  service  of  truth,  having 
visited  England  five  times,  and  the  provinces  of  North  America  once.  She 
died  11th  Mo.,  11th,  1752,  aged  68,  a  minister  forty  years. 


136  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1753. 

father's  labours  :  thou  wilt  remember  him  with  affection  and 
profit. 

Accept,  my  dear  friend,  the  salutation  of  endeared  love,  from 
thy  sincere  friend  and  brother  in  the  labour  and  service  of  the 
blessed  household, 

Samuel  Fothergill. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  PETER  BUCK,  OF  NETHERDALE. 

Skipton,  8lh  Mo.,  9th,  1753. 
The  alliance  between  our  families,  our  former  acquaint- 
ance, and  to  renew  it  afresh,  with  some  other  considerations, 
made  me  very  desirous  of  seeing  thee,  and  I  found  in  my  mind 
a  salutation  of  good  will  to  spread  towards  thee  for  thy  help. 
It  hath  pleased  Divine  Providence  to  afford  thee  several  favours 
of  great  importance  ;  as,  being  sprung  from  virtuous,  religious 
parents,  who  were  good  examples  in  their  generation,  amongst 
men  and  before  their  children  ;  they  loved  Friends,  and  were 
beloved  of  them  ;  and,  through  the  blessing  of  Providence,  they 
have  left  thee  in  affluent,  easy  circumstances,  and  possessed  of 
a  large  share  (in  comparison  with  many)  of  the  good  things  of 
this  world  ;  also,  what  infinitely  exceeds  all  the  riches  of  this 
transitory  world,  the  secret  visitation  of  Divine  light  and  love, 
to  redeem  and  preserve  thee  from  corruption,  and  to  give  thee 
a  name  amongst  the  living,  a  blessed  memorial  in  the  Jerusalem 
of  God. 

Now,  dear  kinsman,  what  lives  upon  my  heart  is,  to  put 
thee  upon  a  serious  and  awful  inquiry,  how  far  these  mer- 
cies have  operated  on  thy  mind  to  produce  their  desired 
effect.  Remember  thy  parents,  and  their  God  and  blesser  5 
their  plainness,  their  love  to  Friends,  their  attendance  of 
meetings,  their  concern  in  them,  for  their  profit,  their  care 
for  their  children's  good,  their  good  example ;  has  this  been 
thy  care  to  imitate,  to  come  up  in  their  footsteps,  and 
show  thyself  a  worthy  descendant  from  a  worthy  stock ; 
has  truth  opened  thine  heart  and  house  for  the  reception 


1 


^TAT.  37.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  137 

of  Friends,  and  drawn  ihy  love  towards  thy  father's  friends,  ' 
whom  we  ought  not  to  forsake  ?  If  so,  I  hesitate  not  to  say, 
the  God  of  thy  parents  will  bless  thee  in  all  things,  and  build 
thee  up  a  sure  house,  and  render  thee  useful  in  that  place,  as  a 
strength  to  that  meeting,  an  useful  member  of  the  society ;  i 
and,  above  all,  the  evidence  of  heavenly  acceptance  will  cover 
thy  soul  as  a  royal  garment,  to  thy  own  inexpressible  peace 
and  joy. 

If,  on  the  contrary  hand,  thou  forsake  thy  father's  footsteps, 
and  turn  aside  from  the  law  of  his  God,  he  will  cast  thee  off, 
thou  wilt  become  a  burden  to  thy  friends,  and  cause  of  pain  to 
thy  sincere  well-wishers,  and  be  a  hurt  to  others  instead  of  a 
help  ;  I  beseech  thee  in  time  to  consider  the  weight  of  their 
guilt  who  turn  their  own  feet  from  the  holy  paths  of  truth, 
and  by  their  example  cause  the  way  of  truth  to  be  evil  spoken 
of,  and  hurt  the  seeking  souls  of  others. 

Thy  possessions  in  the  world  will  become  blessings,  as  they 
are  truly  sanctified  to  thee  by  that  God  who  is  great  on  earth, 
as  well  as  in  heaven ;  the  fatness  of  the  earth  is  his,  and  he  ' 
condescends  to  visit  in  externals ;  all  things  below  are  in  his 
hand,  and  he  has  often  visibly  disappointed  the  pursuits  of 
those  who  have  forgotten  that  it  is  his  blessing  which  makes 
truly  rich ;  and,  though  close  application  and  avarice  may  be 
sometimes  successful  to  accumulate  wealth,  yet  remember,  with  , 
trembling,  the  epithet  of  "  fool"  was  fixed  by  him  who  was  and 
is  eternal  Truth,  upon  all  those  who  were  laying  up  treasure  j 
for  themselves,  and  were  not  rich  towards  God  ;  and  in  that 
solemn  hour  of  decision,  when  all  worldly  enjoyments  shall 
issue  in  vanity,  and  the  largest  possessions  be  light  as  a  feather, 
nothing  short  of  true  inward  peace  will  avail,  and  that  is 
solely  found  in  the  way  of  well-doing.     The  visitation  of 
Divine  Providence  has  been  at  times  near  thee,  to  help  over  ^ 
hurtful  things,  and  to  lead  thee  in  the  path  the  ancients  trod  to 
blessedness. 

0  let  it  be  dear  and  precious  in  thy  sight ;  trample  not 

j 


13S 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS. 


[1753. 


upon  it,  nor  live  above  it  in  thyself ;  fall  down  upon  it,  in  true 
submission  of  soul ;  or,  I  testify,  on  God's  behalf,  it  will  fall 
upon  thee  and  grind  thee  to  powder,  in  a  day  which  thou  can- 
not escape.  Beware,  for  the  sake  of  thy  poor  soul,  of  evil 
company,  who  would  first  seduce,  and  then  deride  thee  ;  like 
their  master  and  employer,  who  tempts,  and,  if  successful, 
torments  those  he  has  betrayed.  Beware  of  an  unequal  marriage, 
if  the  peace  of  thy  soul,  of  thy  family,  thy  present  and  future 
welfare,  be  at  all  desirable.  My  tender  regard  for  thee  leads 
me  to  use  this  freedom  with  thee,  as  certainly  knowing  the 
way  of  truth,  as  delivered  down  to  us  by  our  fathers,  is  the 
way  to  true  peace.  I,  therefore,  entreat  thee,  by  the  mercies  of 
God,  whilst  yet  it  is  day,  remember  Heaven's  favours,  care- 
fully inquire  how  they  have  been  answered  by  thee,  hasten 
diligently  into  the  proper  labour  of  a  true  Christian,  who,  con- 
scious he  has  no  continuing  city  here,  seeks  with  diligence 
one  which  hath  foundations. 

My  soul  craves  that  a  blessing  may  rest  upon  thee ;  and  in 
order  thereto,  seek  thou  that  in  which  it  stands,  that  so  He 
who  blessed  the  house  of  Obed-edom,  where  the  ark  rested, 
may  perpetuate  his  blessings  to  thee  and  thine.  This  is  the 
petition  and  request  of  my  soul  for  thee,  who  am  thy  affectionate 
kinsman,  and  sincere  well-wisher, 

Samuel  Fothergill. 

JOHN  CHURCHMAN  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Norwich,  9th  Mo.,  7th,  1753. 

 I  wish  to  inform  thee  that  I  have  performed 

my  journey  in  Holland,  and  am  returned  to  this  city  in 
health  and  safety,  through  the  never-failing  mercy  of  kind 
Providence,  who  never  sends  his  servants  on  an  embassy 
at  their  own  expense,  but  supplies  with  what  is  needful. 
But  if  we  do  not  lack  any  thing  on  our  pilgrimage,  or  even 
have  to  experience  that  through  his  power  the  very  devils 


^TAT.  37.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


139 


are  made  subject,  we  have  still  a  deeper  and  more  solemn  root 
of  rejoicing,  viz.,  the  evidence  of  a  gentle  inflowing  peace,  from 
a  conscious  sense  of  having  preserved  our  innocency  ;  this  it  is 
lo  have  our  names  written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life.  It  has 
often  been  the  deep  travail  of  my  soul  that  I  might  more  and 
more  experience  this  ;  but  when  I  look  at  my  own  frailties,  I 
am  ready  to  conclude  it  is  yet  but  in  dim  characters,  and,  there- 
fore, have  need  of  the  prayers  of  my  brethren  and  sisters,  of 
which  number  I  am  sensible  thyself  and  dear  wife  are. 

After  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  Norwich,  my  old  companion, 
John  Pemberton,  and  I,  embarked  at  Yarmouth,  and  landed  at 
Rotterdam  on  the  29th  of  7th  Mo. ;  thence  we  went  to  Am- 
sterdam, and  tarried  with  Friends  in  that  city  about  nine  days, 
and  were  at  three  meetings,  and  then  proceeded  into  North 
Holland,  to  Twisk  and  Abbey-Kirk,  and  visited  all  the  families 
of  Friends  in  those  parts,  and  had  three  meetings  with  Friends, 
as  much  by  themselves  as  well  could  be.  There  are  but  few 
of  the  professors  sound  in  the  principles  of  our  religion ;  they 
seem  to  be  a  kind  of  half  Quakers. 

We  went  next  to  Hoorne,  a  very  fine  city.  I  thought  I  felt 
something  in  my  mind  towards  that  place,  but  was  low  and 
weak,  and  under  discouragement,  for  want  of  a  suitable  inter- 
preter, so  thought  I  might  venture  to  pass  on  ;  but  as  I  walked 
very  slowly  through  the  city  to  the  boat,  with  my  mind  turned 
inward,  I  felt  that  my  Master  was  not  far  from  me,  that  his  hand 
was  upon  me  ;  and  I  was  strongly  desirous  to  know  what  he 
would  please  to  have  me  to  do.  I  felt  life  to  spring  in  me,  and 
a  gentle  draft  of  love,  which  drew  me  back.  In  the  interim,  I 
saw  a  young  man  in  the  street,  whom  something  in  me  seemed 
to  salute,  and  1  desired  the  interpreter  to  ask  him  if  we  could 
have  a  meeting  there,  to  which,  with  a  smile,  he  readily  an- 
swered he  believed  we  might ;  so  he  took  my  bags  and  invited 
me  to  his  home,  and  said  he  would  go  and  consult  some  of  his 
acquaintances,  and  seek  for  a  place.  He  soon  returned,  and 
said  he  had  found  a  willingness  in  several,  and  they  had  got  a 


140 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1753- 


large  room  in  a  private  house.  So  we  attended,  and  had  a  good 
open  meeting ;  familiar  Gospel  truths  opened  clearly,  and  the 
love  and  authority  of  Truth  came  over  the  meeting  much  more 
than  I  expected  ;  which  made  me  confess  the  word  of  the  Lord 
is  pure  and  tried,  it  is  a  shield  and  a  buckler  to  them  that  trust 
therein. 

Next  day  we  returned  to  Amsterdam,  and  finished  the  visit 
to  all  the  families  of  Friends  in  that  city,  which  we  had  begun 
before  we  went  into  North  Holland,  attending  their  first  day  and 
week  day  meetings.  We  spoke  by  an  interpreter  :  but  the 
Friend  who  interpreted  is  very  old  and  nearly  superannuated  to 
every  thing  save  an  innocent,  well-meaning,  yet  self-confident 
strong  will,  which  he  still  inherits.  He  preaches  a  good  deal, 
and  has  not  strength  to  do  much  for  any  other ;  if  he  appear 
first,  he  seems  so  much  spent ;  and  if  one  appear  before  him, 
he  has  so  many  of  his  own  old  favourite  words  and  sentences, 
that  he  is  apt  to  intersperse  them  whether  proper  or  improper, 
which  makes  it  tedious  and  wearisome  ;  and  while  he  lives,  it 
seems  impossible  to  persuade  Jean  Vander  Werf  to  undertake 
that  service  ;  he  is  a  tender-spirited  young  man,  and  understands 
English  very  perfectly.  I  had  often  occasion  to  try  him  at 
translation,  for  I  was  forced  sometimes  to  write,  when  I  could 
not  obtain  relief  by  my  tongue,  and  he  did  it  to  good  satisfaction. 
It  is  a  dull,  tedious  way  of  obtaining  relief,  and  though  some- 
times Truth  much  favoured  in  testimony,  and  the  power  thereof 
was  felt  over  the  meeting,  our  interpreter  would  sometimes 
appear  after  us  when  the  meeting  should  have  broken  up, 
whereby,  many  times,  the  beauty  was  lost,  which  is  very 
mortifying  and  discouraging ;  and  many  were  present  who 
never  saw  a  Friends'  meeting  before. 

We  took  shipping  at  Rotterdam  on  the  29th  of  last  month, 
and  landed  safely  in  England  on  the  3d  instant,  having  been 
long  detained  in  the  harbour. 

John  Churchman. 


Jfi-TAT.  37.] 


OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


141 


SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL  TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

Warrington,  10th  Mo.  1753. 

I  have  received  a  hint  which  has  done  me  some  ser- 
vice, and  I  may  probably  often  reflect  upon  it  to  advantage.  I 
had  flattered  myself  with  spending  several  days  with  thee  in 
Cheshire,  even  to  such  a  degree  as  to  wait  with  some  impa- 
tience for  an  account  when  thou  came  into  it.  I  saw  thee, 
enjoyed  the  company  of  thy  spirit  for  a  short  lime,  and  was 
deprived  of  the  satisfaction  I  had  hoped  so  very  strongly  for,  by 
a  call  another  way,  which,  I  can  assure  thee,  if  I  had  not  heard 
my  Master's  voice  in  it,  I  had  not  complied  with.  The  hint  I 
received  is  this : — It  is  very  good  and  profitable  to  keep  near 
the  Fountain  Head,  that,  if  the  streams  be  diverted  out  of  the 
expected  channel,  we  may  not  be  at  a  loss,  having  that  to  ap- 
proach to,  which  remains  everlastingly  fixed. 

The  longer  I  live,  the  more  I  am  convinced  of  the  neces- 
sity of  having  one  Lord  over  all,  and  the  motions  of  his  hand 
and  eye  deeply  and  humbly  regarded.  These  things  are 
written  in  very  legible  characters  in  thy  book,  and  need  not 
my  repetition  ;  but  thou  hast  allowed  me  to  converse  with 
thee  with  that  freedom  whose  grounds  and  results  the  world 
knows  not. 

I  was  easy  with  my  journey  on  the  account  of  the  funeral, 
and  made  some  little  earnings,  and  more  especially  at  Manches- 
ter, on  fifst  day  forenoon,  a  place  I  have  almost  ceased  to  expect 
relief  of  spirit  in.  But  the  virtue  of  the  heavenly  name  spread, 
and,  I  believe,  led  several  of  us  into  a  place,  alas  !  little  fre- 
quented by  many,  but  known  to  some  by  the  name  of  the  valley 
of  decision. 

S.  F. 


142 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1753. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  11th  Mo.,  5th,  1753. 

 I  have  some  reason  to  apprehend  I  must  get 

away  to  America  some  part  of  next  summer.  I  am  quiet,  easy, 
and  resigned,  and  that  which  hath  been  for  years  at  times  a 
heavy,  painful  burden,  that  I  could  not  clearly  see,  appears 
clear ;  and  I  strongly  hope  gracious  Providence,  in  this  quiet 
calm,  will  make  the  trial  easier  to  bear  than  I  have  hitherto 
apprehended.  I  cannot  but  anticipate  the  most  painful  part, 
being  rent  the  flesh  as  from  the  bone  ;  the  dangers  of  the  sea, 
the  various  external  jeopardies  attending,  are  of  less  affecting 
weight.  But  what  shall  we  say  ?  We  are  safe  in  our  obedience 
to  heavenly  counsel,  to  Him  whose  wisdom,  mercy,  and  good- 
ness, we  have  great  and  proved  occasion  reverently  to  adore. 

  Thy  very  acceptable  lines  affected  me  with  the 

strongest  emotions  of  tenderness  and  near  union  :  I  could  not 
peruse  them  without  a  strong  sensibility  of  the  situation  of  that 
mind  whence  it  proceeds,  and  found  a  sympathy  therewith. 
Expressions  are  deficient,  and  language  too  short,  to  set  forth 
the  sentiments  and  mutual  converse  of  spirits  gathered  in  mea- 
sure into  that  which  is  unspeakable.  Oh,  may  every  impedi- 
ment be  removed,  that  we  may  more  and  more  drink  into  that 
fulness  which  fills  and  comprehends  all  things,  but  is  compre- 
hended of  nothing. 

Our  various  probations,  our  concealed  conflicts,  our  hidden 
distresses,  are  often  alleviated  by  this  secret  sympathy  and  fel- 
lowship in  suffering,  and  eminently  so  when  the  great  Father 
of  all  consolation  is  pleased  to  overshadow  with  his  healing  wing. 
This  was  not  far  from  me  in  my  late  little  journey,  though  in 
much  pain  for  the  testimony's  sake,  yet  supported  to  labour,  so 
as  to.have  peace  of  mind,  and  that  is  indeed  enough. 

S.  F. 


^TAT.  38.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


143 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  BRAGG.* 

Warrington,  1st  Mo.,  21st,  1754. 

I  received,  about  twelve  days  ago,  an  anonymous  letter, 
requesting  my  return  thereto,  agreeable  to  the  superscription  I 
intended  to  fix  upon  this. 

The  author  is  personally  a  stranger  to  me  ;  but  I  am  not  al- 
together a  stranger  to  the  situation  described,  and  have  deeply 
waited  for  instruction  and  ability  to  direct,  agreeable  to  the  mind 
of  Truth,  and  ihe  sympathy  I  feel  on  my  mind  with  the  dis- 
tressed. Expect  not  from  me  an  elaborate  disquisition  into 
speculative  points  ;  for  this  I  know,  from  experience,  that  part 
must  die  which  longs  to  comprehend  more  truths,  while  the 
former  discoveries  are  yet  disobeyed.  The  first  principles  of 
religion,  as  I  have  found,  are  the  knowledge  of  our  own  weak- 
ness, and  Almighty  sufficiency  to  supply  all  defects-  Whoever 
builds  on  another  foundation  will  be  finally  disappointed.  Thy 
letter  manifests  a  sense  of  want ;  and,  as  thou  attends  to  that 
sense,  that  which  gives  it  will,  in  due  time,  supply  it ;  for  the 
Lord  our  God  hears  his  own.  The  state  of  leprous  Naaman 
has  been  strongly  before  me  on  thy  account.  He  was  dis- 
quieted under  his  malady,  and  sought  relief ;  but  he  had  like  to 
have  missed  it,  by  contemning  the  means  ;  his  pride  was  piqued 
that  the  Prophet  came  not  out  to  work  an  immediate  cure  with 
some  visible  demonstration  of  power  ;  so  that  stooping  to  the 
simple  means  of  bathing  in  Jordan  was  very  mortifying  to  him  ; 
he  remembered  Abana  and  Pharpar,  rivers  of  Damascus,  and 
was  willing  to  believe  they  were  of  equal  virtue.  But  know 
this  assuredly,  there  is  no  river  capable  of  cleansing  the  soul 
but  that  which  proceeds  from  under  the  throne  of  God — no 
stream  flowing  from  speculation,  or  any  natural  powers  can 
wash  out  the  stain,  and  bring  peace  to  the  soul.    Deeply  and 

John  Bragrg  lived  at  Whitehaven,  and  died  there  very  generally  be- 
loved, in  5th  Mo.  1795,  aged  72. 


144 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1754. 


submissively  abide  with  lhal  sacred  Minister  of  the  new  cove- 
nant ;  if  ihou  art  weak,  he  is  strong  ;  and  sure  I  am,  the  God  of 
all  strength  and  truth  would  not  leave  thee  destitute.  Be  con- 
tent to  be  a  child,  or  thou  wilt  be  a  monster  ;  let  his  day  come 
upon  that  which  is  lofty,  and  the  cross  be  taken  up  to  hurtful 
things,  and  in  his  light  thou  wilt  see  more  light ;  and,  until 
thou  hast  been  fed  from  on  high  with  milk  fit  for  a  babe,  stronger 
meat  or  higher  discoveries  would  not  be  good  nourishment,  but 
create  disorders  for  want  of  digestion. 

My  soul  fervently  desires  thy  help  ;  but  remember,  with  holy 
trembling,  the  way  to  heaven  lies  through  the  gates  of  death. 
The  Lord  of  all  mercy  and  strength  renew  effectually  his  visi- 
tation to  thy  soul,  and  build  thee  upon  the  sure  foundation  that 
can  never  be  shaken.    I  am  thy  true  friend  and  well-wisher,, 

S.  F. 

WILLIAM  BROWN»  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

3d  Mo.,  16th,  1754. 

 Having  visited  meetings  in  and  about  London, 

my  way  opened  to  visit  Sussex,  Surrey,  and  Kent,  which  I  did 
with  great  diligence,  thinking  that  after  then  I  might  sail  for  Vir- 
ginia, and  so  home  by  land  :  but  then,  when  I  would  fain  go  to 
sea,  it  looked  fearful  and  dark,  and  I  had  no  heavenly  bread  for 
sea-store  ;  but  if  I  would  walk  in  the  light  or  the  way  that  opened 
in  my  view,  I  must  go  through  Wiltshire,  as  I  had  not  visited  that 
county,  and  so  into  Wales  ;  and  I  discovered  such  a  hidden  war- 
fare between  nature  and  grace,  although  I  had  often  said  to 

*  William  Brown  came  over  from  America  with  John  Churchman,  on  a 
religious  visit,  and  returned  soon  after  this  letter  was  written  :  the  visit  to 
Wiltshire  therein  mentioned  was  very  seasonable,  he  being  made  helpful 
to  Friends  of  that  county,  who  were  at  that  time  in  some  difficulty. 


^TAT.  38.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


145 


myself,  and  to  some  Friends,  that  I  hoped  1  was  truly  re- 
signed to  His  will,  who  is  so  highly  worthy  to  be  honoured  and 
obeyed  ;  but  I  felt  something  in  me  which  seemed  to  divide  soul 
and  spirit,  which  made  me  carry  about  such  an  aching  heart,  and 
especially  when  one  piece  of  service  after  another  was  performed, 
and  I  let  my  mind  look  home  till  a  fear  seized  me  that  I  should 
be  like  Balaam,  if  I  was  so  constantly  asking  for  liberty  to  go, 
and  spake  of  doing  only  the  Lord's  will,  who  was  pleased  so  to 
accompany  my  spirit  that  I  had  often  to  say.  Well,  I  am  glad 
that  I  came  to  visit  this  place,  as  I  have  been  favoured  with 
such  healing  balsam  that  has  bravely  healed  my  sore  inside  ; 
and  since  I  came  out  of  Wales,  I  have  had  as  close  and  heavy 
work  as  in  any  part  of  my  religious  labours. 

William  Brown. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ANN  APPLEBY.* 

Warrington  4th  Mo.,  1754. 

In  my  journey  into  Yorkshire,  whence  I  returned  a 
few  days  ago,  1  heard  the  sorrowful  account  of  the  death  of  thy 
husband,  and  had  it  confirmed  by  thy  favour  of  the  21st  ult. 
The  sympathy  I  strongly  felt  with  thee  in  thy  present  situation, 
had  determined  me,  before  the  receipt  of  thine,  to  send  thee  a 
few  lines  ;  and  I  can  assure  thee,  I  am  a  sharer  in  thy  distress, 
and  can  mingle  my  sorrows  with  thine.  The  relation  he  bore 
thee,  my  dear  friend,  and  some  acquaintance  I  had  with  him, 
were  inducements  to  esteem  and  affectionately  to  regard  him  ; 
but  there  seemed,  and  really  was,  a  closer  union  and  connexion 
at  and  since  our  last  interview  than  heretofore.  I  thought  him 
near  the  kingdom,  but  was  not  apprehensive  of  his  being  so  near 
his  discharge  from  the  cares  and  disquietudes  of  this  life. 
We  must  acknowledge  the  laws  of  friendship  are  sacred  and 

*  Ann  Appleby,  previously  Ann  Ford,  (of  Leek,)  was  at  this  time  the 
widow  of  Joshua  Appleby,  who  died  in  the  County  of  Durham,  3d  Mo., 
16, 1754,  aged  26. 

20 


146 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1754. 


strong  :  we  cannot,  we  ought  not  to  divest  ourselves  of  their  ob- 
ligations, nor  with  insensibihly  of  mind  admit  their  dissolution  : 
the  unspotted  Pattern  of  infinite  righteousness,  when  his  friend 
Lazarus  died,  felt  as  a  man,  and  wept :  but  various  considera- 
tions will  be  suggested,  to  that  mind  which  looks  the  right  way, 
to  alleviate  the  pain  which  attends  these  dispensations — the 
mercy  and  wisdom  of  an  Almighty  Being,  glorious  and  full  of 
majesty  as  Jehovah,  yet  gracious  and  compassionate  as  the 
Father  and  Fountain  of  relief,  which  has  revived  many  a  droop- 
ing soul  when  afflictions  have  attended.  He  knows  what  is  best 
for  us  all,  and  most  conducive  to  his  own  honour.  We  may  ac- 
knowledge, when  our  understandings  are  opened,  though  his 
works  may  seem  marvellous,  and  his  ways  past  finding  out,  yet 
in  wisdom  has  he  made  them  all.  The  tender  connexions  of 
husband  and  father  are  now  for  ever  broken,  but  by  whom  ? 
One  whose  wisdom  and  mercy  are  over  all  his  works,  and  who 
can  abundantly  supply  all  deficiencies,  and  has  been  known  to 
be  a  father  to  the  fatherless,  and  a  judge  for  the  widow,  from 
his  holy  habitation. 

He  is  removed  from  us  in  youth,  and  the  prospect  of  long 
continuance  amongst  his  friends.  Alas,  how  know  we  what 
remains  for  us  in  the  residue  of  our  days,  that  we  are  so 
anxious  to  have  prolonged  ?  Many  exercises  and  troubles 
attend  the  smoothest  passage  in  this  life  ;  what  better 
time  than  when  under  that  preparing  hand  which  fits  for 
eternal  peace  1  It  is  admirable  wisdom  and  mercy  thus  to 
deal  with  us,  to  relieve  from  all  dangers,  and  translate  into 
that  quiet  rest,  where  all  sorrows,  fears,  and  temptations 
are  unknown  terms.  Afflictions,  dear  Nancy,  spring  not 
out  of  the  ground  ;  they  are  often  conducive  to  our  help 
in  the  best  things.  Let  this  awful,  solemn  trial  enough 
close  on  thy  mind,  and  engage  thee  to  look  to  the  ever- 
lasting, holy,  unchangeable  husband  and  helper  of  all  who 
reverently  seek  to  be  meet  for  his  acceptance  ;  who,  by  the 
secret  working  of  his  unsearchable  power,  clothes  excellent 


1 


JfiTAT.  38.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  147 

mercy  in  the  form  of  disappointment,  and  causes  all  things  to 
work  together  for  good  to  his  servants. 

Let  the  impressions  made  on  thy  minJ,  by  the  moving  object 
so  lately  before  thee,  and  the  true,  certain  testimony  delivered,  of 
the  great  advantage  of  true  Christianity,  be  imprinted  in  deep 
humble  characters ;  that  so,  merciful  protection  may  be  ever 
with  thee  and  thine,  and  lead,  at  last,  to  a  reunion  in  the  king- 
dom of  peace,  where  thou  mayest  inherit  an  unfading  crown. 

My  wife  joins  me  in  tender  sympathy  with  thee,  and  our 
prayers  are  for  thy  preservation  and  Divine  help. 

Thy  real  friend, 

S.F. 

ANN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HER  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  7th  Mo,  23d,  1754. 

 William  Brown  (accompanied  by  Joshua  Dix- 
on) has  sailed  for  America.  I,  with  several  other  Friends,  ac- 
companied them  to  Gravesend,  and  had  much  solid  satisfaction 
in  his  good  company ;  I  think  I  may  say  a  Divine  sweetness 
•and  joy  filled  his  mind  with  gratitude,  peace,  and  thankfulness, 
that  he  had  been  preserved  in  the  way  of  his  duty,  to  a  full  dis- 
charge of  it  in  these  parts  ;  he  repeatedly  said,  with  awful 
thankfulness,  that  he  was  clear,  and  had  never  found  the  like 
solid  joy  and  consolation  of  soul,  without  any  intermission,  as 
he  now  enjoyed.  He  dropped  several  weighty  admonitions,  in 
much  love  and  tenderness,  which  nearly  affected  and  united 
those  present  to  him ;  the  parting,  with  a  rising  prospect, 
brought  by  it  very  near  to  my  view,  was  more  than  I  could  sus- 
tain unobserved  by  those  present. 

The  following  is  part  of  a  letter  from  Israel  Pemberton  to 
William  Brown,  which  the  latter  desires  me  to  send  thee : — 
I  have  been,  for  a  long  time  past,  desirous  of  writing  to  Sam- 
uel  Fothergill ;  the  reverence  I  have  for  his  worthy  father's 
*'  memory  first  inclined  me  to  think  of  it ;  I  have  still  deferred 


i 


148 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1754- 


"  it,  and  now  perceive  he  is  preparing  to  pay  us  a  visit,  of 
"  which  we  have  long  been  very  desirous  ;  the  wish  I  have 
"  of  engaging  his  company  to  my  house,  determined  me  to  sa- 
"lute  him  with  a  few  lines,  and  even  to  offer  to  attend  him 
"  through  the  adjacent  provinces  ;  but  though  to  will  is  present 
"  with  me,  how  to  perform  I  find  not,  and  some  doubt  arises, 
"  whether  such  a  proposal  vi^ould  or  may  be  agreeable  ;  there- 
"  fore  I  adopt  this  method  of  hinting  my  thoughts  and  wishes  to 
"  thee,  and  if  by  that  means  I  should  succeed  in  obtaining  his 
"  good  company  to  lodge  with  us  when  here,  it  will  aflford  me  a 
"  great  deal  of  pleasure,  and  I  hope  be  to  his  satisfaction." 

A  letter  is  received  from  John  Churchman,  who  desires  us  to 
give  thee  the  speediest  notice  that  he  thinks  of  going  with  Cap^' 
tain  Mesnard,  who  is  to  sail  on  the  first  of  next  month. 

A.  F, 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


The  year  1754  is  memorable  in  the  life  of  Samuel  FoTher- 
GiLL,  as  being  that  in  which  he  left  his  native  land  to  engage  in 
the  long  and  laborious  service  of  a  religious  visit  to  the  provinces 
of  North  America. 

The  unfoldings  upon  his  mind  of  this  important  duty,  and  the 
steps  which  he  took  that  he  might  rightly  engage  in  the  per- 
formance of  it,  are  well  described  in  the  following  extract  from 
his  journal.  His  care  to  observe  good  order,  and  his  earnest 
desire  to  obtain  and  proceed  with  the  unity  and  concurrence  of 
his  friends,  are  well  worthy  of  note. 

"  It  having  been  weightily  upon  my  mind,  from  the  motion  of 
"  the  World  of  Life,  to  pay  a  religious  visit  to  the  Church  of 
'*  Christ  in  the  Plantations  of  North  America  ;  after  near  ten 
"  years  from  the  first  opening  thereof,  and  many  painful  tossings, 
"  with  fear  on  one  hand  of  running  unsent,  and  on  the  other,  a 
"  reverent  care  not  to  slight  the  requirings  of  that  Holy  Being 
"  who  has  a  right  to  command  in  earth  as  well  as  in  heaven,  I 
"  found  it  clearly  opened  when  was  the  proper  time,  and  a  dis- 
'*  position  of  spirit  was  given  me  to  acquiesce  with  Truth's 
"  requirings,  and  endeavour  to  act  honestly  thereto. 

"  In  pursuance  whereof,  having  mentioned  my  concern  to 
"  several  weighty  brethren  and  sisters,  and  having  their  con- 
"  current  sense  of  my  being  rightly  called  to  that  service,  I 
"  acquainted  our  Friends  at  the  Preparative  Meeting  at  Penketh, 
"  and  Monthly  Meeting  for  Hardslmw,  held  at  Warrington  in 
"  the  4th  Month,  1754,  who  gave  me  a  certificate  of  their  con- 
"  currence,  and  sense  of  Truth's  requiring  in  this  weighty  under- 


150 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1754. 


*'  taking  ;  I  also  laid  my  concern  before  our  Quarterly  Meeting 
"  at  Lancaster,  the  same  month,  which  endorsed  my  certificate, 
"  and  signed  it  by  many  Friends.  I  also  found  my  mind  en- 
"  gaged  to  acquaint  Friends  at  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Minister- 
"  ing  Friends  in  London,  who  also  testified  their  approbation  by 
"  a  certificate^  signed  by  many  brethren  and  sisters.  These 
"  particular  steps  I  found  it  my  duty  to  take,  in  order  to  obtain 
"  the  concurrence  or  council  of  Friends,  both  for  example's 
"  sake,  and  the  mutual  unity  of  the  brotherhood,  which,  in  low 
"  times,  hath  been  strength  and  encouragement  to  my  drooping 
"  spirit. 

"  I  left  Warrington  the  2d  of  8th  Month,  1754  :  my  dear 
"  wife,  with  some  others,  accompanied  me  to  Leek,  where  we 
"  parted  on  the  3d,  and  I  came  to  London,  being  met  at  Albans 
*'  by  my  sister,  on  the  5th,  and  stayed  in  London  until  the  9th, 
"  when  dear  John  Churchman  and  myself,  accompanied  by 
"  many  Friends,  went  down  to  Gravesend. 

"  1754,  8th  Mo.,  10th. — Went  on  board  the  Caroline,  Stephen 
"  Mesnard,  commander  ;  had,  with  many  Friends  who  went  on 
"  board,  a  precious  opportunity,  in  the  humbling  sense  of  Divine 
"  regard.  We  returned  to  Gravesend  to  dine  ;  and  afterwards 
"  parted  from  our  dear  Friends,  and  went  on  board  the  ship. 
"  Fell  down  the  river ;  we  were  detained  in  the  Downs  and  the 
"  Channel  until  the  17th,  when  we  lost  the  sight  of  land,  and 
"  pursued  our  voyage. 

"  Had  a  comfortable  passage)  in  which  time  we  always  kept 
"  up  (though  only  two)  our  religious  meetings,  and  the  Lord  of 
"  all  mercies  was  often  and  mercifully  near  to  our  comfort. 

"  9th  Mo.,  28d.  We  first  discovered  the  Capes  of  Delaware 
'*  River,  and  took  in  a  pilot ;  being  favoured  with  a  good  wind,  we 
"  came  120  miles  up  the  river,  and  cast  anchor  above  Wilmington. 

"  24th. — Went  ashore,  and  hired  horses  to  Wilmington, 
"  where  we  were  very  kindly  received  by  William  and  Eliza- 
"  heth  Shipley  ;  immediately  after  our  arrival,  William  Brown 
"  and  Joshua  Dixon  came  in,  who  were  just  landed,  though 


I 


JETAT.  38.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  151 

"  they  sailed  three  weeks  before  us.  Dear  John  Churchman 
"  went  home  that  evening,  and  WilUam  Brown,  Joshua  Dixon, 
"  and  myself,  went  up  that  evening  to  Philadelphia  and  Schuyl- 
"  kill.  I  lodged  at  Israel  Pemberton's,  where  I  met  a  kind 
"  reception." 

The  journal  is  kept  thus  minutely  only  for  a  few  days  after 
he  landed  in  America ;  but  he  continued  daily  to  record  in  it 
the  places  he  visited,  and  the  meetings  which  he  attended,  with 
occasional  brief  notices  of  some  of  them,  as  a  "  favoured  meet- 
ing"— "  meeting  large  and  well"  —  "  a  low  time,"  &c. 

His  feelings,  and  the  various  exercises  of  his  mind,  his 
progress,  and  travels,  are  much  developed  in  the  correspond- 
ence which  follows. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  AND  SISTER. 

Opposite  Margate,  1st  Day  Morning, 
(8th  Mo.,  nth,  1754.) 

As  our  pilot  is  likely  to  leave  us  very  soon,  I  embrace 
the  opportunity  of  sending  this  on  shore  by  him,  to  let  you 
know  I  am  well  and  easy  in  spirit  and  body.  The  strong  ties 
of  affection  subsisting  between  us,  rendered  it  very  hard  for 
me  to  tear  myself  away  from  you  ;  but  I  accept  it  as  a  mark  of 
the  Heavenly  Father's  regard,  and  an  evidence  that  I  am  not 
out  of  my  place,  that  my  mind  peaceably  centres  in  Him  whose 
hand  I  feel  in  the  service  before  me  ;  and  have  much  left  behind 
me  every  tie  that  might  unavailingly  distress  my  mind. 

I  beg  each  of  us  may  ever  seek  that  centre  of  real  quiet 
which  can  never  be  destroyed  by  any  commotions  by  sea  or 
land. 

My  near  and  affectionate  salutation  is  to  you  both,  and  my 
prayers  are  for  your  preservation,  as  for  my  own. 

S.  F. 


I 


I 


152  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1754. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Philadelphia,  9th  Mo.,  26th,  1754. 
I  embrace  this  early  opportunity  of  acquainting  thee 
with  my  safe  arrival  here,  after  a  very  agreeable  passage  of 
six  weeks  and  three  days  from  London.  I  have  had  my  health 
at  sea  remarkably  well,  and  not  an  hour  sick  the  whole  pas- 
sage ;  my  appetite  and  rest  in  general  as  well  as  on  land  ; 
highly  favoured  with  the  agreeable,  profitable  company  of  dear 
John  Churchman,  and  the  whole  cabin  to  ourselves  ;  and  what 
is  still  more  valuable,  the  countenance  of  our  Heavenly  Father 
often  beheld  to  our  comfort :  with  a  grateful,  humble  spirit,  I 
ascribe  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  the  Fountain  of  mercies, 
ancient  and  new. 

On  3d  day,  the  24th  instant,  we  landed  about  thirty  miles 
below  this  city,  being  prevented  coming  up  by  contrary  wind, 
and  went  ashore  near  Elizabeth  Shipley's,  where  we  met  with 
a  kind  reception,  and  in  half  an  hour  were  agreeably  surprised 
to  see  William  Brown  and  Joshua  Dixon  come  into  the  house  ; 
they  sailed  three  weeks  before  us,  and  we  arrived  before  them, — 
a  joyful,  humbling  meeting  it  was.  After  we  had  refreshed 
ourselves,  John  Churchman  left  us,  proposing  to  reach  home 
that  night,  and  we  came  up  to  this  city. 

I  am,  with  a  heart  replenished  with  thankfulness  to  the 
Author  of  all  our  mercies,  and  in  the  most  affectionate  nearness 
to  thee,  with  the  salutation  of  love  to  all  relations  and  friends, 
thine  in  the  bonds  of  continued  affection, 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Philadelphia,  9th  Mo.,  30th,  1754. 

 I  earnestly  crave  of  our  Heavenly  Protector 

that  his  holy  arm  may  surround  and  support  us  both,  may 
keep  thee  in  quiet  resignation  to  his  will  in  the  present 


I 


^TAT.  38.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


153 


trial,  and  in  every  respect  help  to  live  to  his  own  praise, 
and  thy  solid  comfort ;  and  I  question  not  but  it  will  be  so, 
as  he  is  properly  and  reverently  sought  to.  I  know  and  sen- 
sibly feel  thy  sympathy  is  strongly  with  me  in  my  present 
allotment,  and  I  have,  with  an  awfully  humbled  soul,  to  acknow- 
ledge His  living  power  and  mighty  arm  have  been  sensibly 
and  plentifully  with  me  since  my  arrival  here,  having  been  at 
six  meetings  in  this  place,  several  of  which  have  truly  been 
memorably  to  my  own  encouragement  to  look  to  him  who  is 
all-sufficient.  The  meetings  are  exceedingly  large,  and  all 
sorts  and  ranks  of  people  flock  to  them,  and  the  mighty  Name 
is  deservedly  exalted.  In  the  midst  of  this  favour  I  rejoice 
with  trembling,  and  in  full  expectation  of  my  having  an 
approaching  humbling  time,  wherein  I  may  be  proved  with 
want  and  poverty ;  I  am  thoroughly  resigned,  I  hope,  to  suffer 

as  well  as  to  abound  

 Friends  here  treat  me  with  very  great  affection,  on 

dear  father's  account,  and  some  resemblance  in  person  and 
ministry  has  induced  divers  to  think  they  would  have  known 
me  to  be  his  son,  if  they  had  not  known  of  my  arrival.  Oh 
that  I  may  be  so  conducted  as  to  walk  in  his  footsteps,  and 
dishonour  neither  his  name,  nor  the  cause  of  Truth.  And 
although  every  affectionate  sentiment  towards  thee,  and  near 
union  to  friends  and  relations  thereaway,  strongly  subsist  with 
me,  yet  I  have  a  perfect  quiet  and  weanedness  from  all  at  home, 
which  I  esteem  a  singular  mercy  ;  my  soul  is  bound  to  the 
testimony  and  seed  of  God  in  these  parts. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Philadelphia,  10th  Mo.,  3d,  1754. 
I  have  now  to  inform  thee  my  health  is  preserved 
beyond  expectation,  and  the  climate,  though  it  has  been 
much  hotter  than  any  of  our  summers,  has  not  been  intole- 
rable ;   the  greatest  inconvenience  I  find  is  the  number  of 
21 


154 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1754. 


mosquitos,  a  little  venomous  fly,  that  have,  within  these  few- 
nights,  severely  handled  me,  and  so  swelled  my  hands  as  to 
render  it  not  easy  to  write  ;  a  feverish  heat  has  attended,  but  I 
am  carefully  and  affectionately  nursed  by  ray  very  kind  land- 
lady. 

I  hitherto  have  cause  of  thankfulness  and  awful  worship 
before  the  Almighly,  for  his  help  in  enabling  me  quietly  to  bear 
a  separation  from  what  is  to  me  inexpressibly  dear,  and  even 
without  a  wish  about  any,  but  for  their  happiness,  which  often 
occurs.  I  feel  my  soul  bound  to  the  testimony  and  cause  of 
Truth  as  my  proper  business  ;  no  insensibility  attends  my 
mind,  or  decay  of  pure  affection  ;  it  is  cheerfully  fresh,  and. 
livingly  revived  ;  but  I  have  been  led  into  a  service,  by  a  hand 
at  whose  dispensation  I  dare  not  repine,  and  who  is  the  all- 
sufficient  and  only  stay  for  all  our  states,  and  who  has  been 
pleased  to  favour,  in  condescension  not  to  be  enough  admired, 
and  claims  the  most  humble  returns. 

I  have  been  at  seven  meetings  in  this  city,  some  of  which 
have  been  times  of  memorable  favour  to  my  soul,  and  I  believe 
a  fresh  visitation  of  gracious  help  to  some  here,  that  I  have 
cause  of  secret  ease  of  mind  in  giving  up  to  the  service.  Yet 
am  I  sensible,  low  baptizing  times  must  be  met  with,  and  I 
may  probably  travel  many  days  in  the  strength  of  that  bread 
already  received  ;  but  in  this  also  I  desire  to  be  contented  ;  it 
was  the  lot  of  the  all-perfect  One,  and  of  his  faithful.  I  beg 
preservation  from  every  thing  which  might  exclude  me  from  his 
holy  table  ;  and  let  His  will  be  done  who  is  ever  worthy. 

Dear  sister,  may  thy  mind  be  stayed  upon  that  which  is  im- 
movable, which,  though  one,  is  omnipresent ;  our  mutual 
rejoicing  in  spirit,  though  absent  in  body,  and  I  am  afresh 
assured  is  near  us  both  for  our  good  :  this  time  of  absence  will 
gradually  wear  away  ;  and  I  hope  to  be  restored  in  the  due  time 
to  the  enjoyment  of  that  society  and  company  which  is  at  this 
time  fresh  in  my  remembrance,  and  dear  to  my  life. 

S.  F. 


jETAT.   38.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


155 


MARY  PEMBERTON  TO  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  10th  Mo.  16th,  1754. 

It  is  ia  a  degree  of  that  love  that  makes  the  friends  of 
Truth  near  to  each  other,  in  a  spiritual  relation,  though  person- 
ally unacquainted,  that  I  at  this  time  salute  thee  ;  and  having 
oft-times  experienced  a  real  pleasure  in  sympathizing  with  my 
friends,  whether  in  joy  or  sorrow,  it  is  a  disposition  of  mind  I 
desire  to  retain,  as  it  bears  a  near  resemblance  to  that  blessed 
example  which  it  is  our  duty  and  greatest  interest  to  follow,  and 
justly  due  to  each  other  as  His  disciples :  in  a  sense  of  this 
regard  and  sympathy,  I  have  thought  of  thee  in  this  time  of 
separation  from  so  valuable  a  companion,  for  the  work's  sake 
whereunto  he  is  called,  and  so  eminently  qualified  ;  and  doubt 
not,  dear  friend,  but  the  present  dispensation  will  be  made  easy 
to  a  person  of  thy  religious  experience,  by  a  large  share  of  that 
peace  which  is  the  effect  of  righteousness,  and  in  partaking  of 
that  blessing  which  I  hope  and  trust  will  attend  the  labours  of 
thy  dear  husband  in  this  part  of  the  world  ;  and  may  we,  who 
have  been  frequently  visited  with  tokens  of  the  Divine  regard 
in  this  respect,  walk  worthy  of  so  great  mercy  and  favour,  by 
bringing  forth  fruits  agreeable  to  the  abundant  labour  bestowed 
upon  us.  Well  may  it  be  said  of  us,  as  of  old,  "  We,  as  a  peo- 
ple, above  all  the  families  of  the  earth,  have  been  distinguished," 
by  the  inestimable  blessing  of  a  living  and  powerful  ministry  ; 
the  Lord  grant  that  the  present  generation  may  experience  the 
happy  effects  of  these  gracious  calls  thoroughly  to  awaken  them 
to  a  humble  and  circumspect  walking  with  him  ;  and  as  thy 
beloved  husband  is  peculiarly  instrumental  in  this  great  and 
honourable  work,  I  believe  I  may  venture  to  say,  he  meets  with 
a  pleasing  reception  by  all,  and  I  am  sure  by  us,  who  are  fa- 
voured with  his  acquaintance  and  agreeable  company  at  our 
house. 

 After  our  Quarterly  Meeting,  the  beginning  of  next 


156 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


L1754. 


month,  he,  perhaps,  will  make  but  a  short  stay  amongst  us,  the 
season  of  the  year  being  the  most  suitable  for  a  longer  journey 
to  the  southward,  to  which  I  perceive  he  is  at  present  led,  and 
am  not  without  thoughts  that  my  dear  husband  may  bear  him 
company,  if  he  can  contract  his  afifairs  into  a  compass  suitable  to 
leave  ;  and  though  it  is  a  considerable  trial  to  be  deprived  of  the 
company  of  an  agreeable  companion  and  indulgent  husband,  it 
is  a  circumstance  which  hath  heretofore  frequently  fallen  to  my 
lot,  in  which,  at  times,  I  have  happily  experienced  that  the  ex- 
ercise of  patience  and  resignation  hath  been  attended  with  a 
suitable  reward. 

Mary  Pemberton. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Philadelphia,  10th  Mo.,  31st,  1754. 
I  can  at  once  inform  thee  I  am  well,  every  way  well ; 
glory  and  praise  for  ever  be  ascribed  to  the  inexhaustible  spring 
of  all  mercies,  who  has  sustained  hitherto  beyond  my  utmost 
hopes,  and  enabled  me  to  travel  closely,  and  labour  faithfully, 
in  his  work  and  service.  I  have  finished  (as  far  as  I  see  at 
present)  my  visit  to  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  and  visited 
a  small  meeting  in  Virginia,  which  consisted  but  of  one  family ; 
but,  as  I  understood  they  kept  up  a  meeting  constantly,  I  could 
not  leave  it,  though  it  cost  me  180  miles  ride.  I  have  been 
about  twenty-five  days  out  of  this  place,  and  travelled  about 
650  miles,  and  am  better  in  health  than  when  I  left  it ;  the 
weather  generally  pleasant,  the  roads  very  good,  our  accommo- 
dations such  as  many  better  Friends  have  been  content  with, 
and  I  am  thoroughly  so.  I  came  back  to  this  city,  having  some 
concern  to  attend  the  Quarterly  Meeting ;  after  that,  I  hope  to 
have  every  thing  ready  for  my  long  journey.  I  expect  it  will 
be  five  or  six  months  before  I  can  either  hear  from  or  write 
again  to  thee.  Israel  Pemberton  proposes  to  accompany  me 
the  greatest  part  of  my  southern  journey. 


^TAT.  38.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


157 


I  esteem  it  a  mercy  that  claims  my  deepest  gratitude,  that  I 
am  so  much  favoured  in  every  respect ;  and  my  soul  is  bowed 
in  reverence  to  the  Author  of  true  help,  for  the  aid  granted,  and 
I  hope  ever  to  live  mindful  of  it.  I  met  dear  M.  Peisley  here, 
and  we  were  together  this  day  at  the  week-day  meeting,  which 
was  very  large,  and  we  were  both  helped  to  labour  in  the  wis- 
dom and  authority  of  Christ  our  head,  to  his  own  honour  and 
our  great  peace. 

I  want  not  affectionate  remembrance  of  my  near  and  dear  rela- 
tions, but  have  not  opportunity  at  present  of  writing,  nor  doth 
necessity  require  it ;  if  they  live  in  heart  to  the  Heavenly  Father, 
our  sympathy  and  union  one  with  another  will  stand  immovable, 
in  that  which  absence  cannot  impair  nor  many  waters  quench  ; 
which  will  be  our  joy  and  rejoicing  one  in  and  with  another ; 
though  outward  expressions  may  fail,  yet  no  mistrust  of  neglect 
or  forgetfulness  will  take  place.  But  if  this  hidden  root  of  the 
saints'  fellowship  be  overlooked,  a  decay  of  true  union  will  gradu- 
ally ensue,  and  alienation  of  heart  from  the  family  and  its  holy 
head  will  take  place.  My  soul  fervently  begs  all  may  be  quick- 
ened to  diligence,  in  this  their  day,  to  do  their  own  business  faith- 
fully in  the  heavenly  plantation  ;  to  the  rooting  out  hurtful  things, 
which  I  am  sure  will  grow  and  spread  in  the  unguarded  heart, 
which  has  not  a  hedge  about  it,  nor  seeks  the  descending  of  holy 
rain,  for  quickening,  enlivening  help  ;  but  is  absent  from  its  pro- 
per, safe  habitation  in  the  Truth,  abroad  in  the  world,  and  its  pur- 
suits and  evil  spirit.  Such  will  suffer  loss,  and  be  in  danger  of 
being  so  lamentably  covered  with  briars,  thorns,  and  weeds,  as  to 
be  altogether  unlike  that  garden  enclosed,  wherein  the  spouse  of- 
ten condescends  to  walk,  and  makes  it  as  Eden.  The  salutation 
of  my  heart  is  towards  my  brethren  and  sisters  that  way,  and 
their  families,  with  strong  desires  for  all  their  help  and  estab- 
lishment in  the  truth  of  God  ;  for  that  is  our  foundation,  and 
sole,  safe  corner-stone  to  build  on.  People  may  build  upon  hay 
and  stubble,  and  have  cause  to  be  ashamed  with  everlasting 
shame  and  disappointment.    For  let  us  awfully  consider,  what 


158 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS. 


[1754. 


many  are  desirous  to  forget,  a  day  of  trial  hastens  apace  upon 
all,  in  their  particular  capacity  ;  and  happy  they,  and  they  only, 
who  have  dug  to  Christ  the  rock,  and  in  faithful  obedience  been 
built  up  by  him,  in  and  upon  himself ;  when  dismay  shall  over- 
take the  stout-hearted,  and  wo  and  distress  those  who  have  been 
falsely  at  ease  in  Zion,  and  a  terrible  day  come  upon  the  for- 
getful and  negligent,  those  honestly  concerned  and  diligent  la- 
bourers in  their  respective  lots  in  the  heritage,  will  have  to  re- 
joice in  the  abundant  e.tperience  of  Divine  protection,  and  receive 
the  end  of  their  faith,  even  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  The 
overflowing  of  affectionate  remembrance  has,  unawares,  led  my 
pen  forwards  towards  my  near  and  dear  relations  with  their  fa- 
milies, and  I  leave  thee  to  thy  liberty  either  to  keep  or  spread 
amongst  them  what  I  have  written. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  AND  SISTER. 

Philadelphia,  11th  Mo.,  6th,  1754. 

In  the  freshness  of  strong  natural  aff'ection,  and 
in  the  renewedness  of  that  love  which  is  abundantly  more 
uniting,  I  tenderly  salute  you,  and  though  far  outwardly 
separated  from  you,  for  the  cause  and  testimony  of  Truth, 
and  the  way  of  my  duty  for  peace'  sake,  yet  are  you  often 
present  in  spirit  with  me,  and,  I  am  persuaded,  I  with  you, 
in  that  which  is  not  destroyed  or  impaired  by  absence.  I 
have,  through  the  wonderful  condescension  of  our  father's 
God,  to  inform  you,  who  are  anxiously  solicitous  about  me, 
that  I  am  well— every  way  well  ;  my  health  better  than 
I  have  for  some  time  enjoyed  in  my  native  country  ;  and> 
what  is  to  me  a  deeper  cause  of  reverent  dwelling  in  ashes, 
the  holy  arm  of  strength  is  near,  to  help  to  live  and  to 
labour  in  the  Lord's  heritage,  so  as  to  know  his  blessed 
approbation,  which  I  principally  and  above  all  desire,  and 


^TAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


159 


in  that  true  and  solid  peace  which  is  the  true  riches  of  tlie 
soul. 

I  worship  in  heart  and  spirit  towards  that  heavenly  arm  who 
has  led  me,  an  unworthy  creature,  into  the  secret  fellowship  of 
his  servants,  and  given  an  earnest  of  the  promised  inheritance  ; 
who  hath  graciously  passed  by  manifold  transgressions,  called 
me  into  some  share  of  his  holy  service,  and  hitherto  sustained 
through  many  besetments,  regarded  the  secret  seed  of  sincerity 
in  my  heart,  and  revived  my  hiddenly  pained  soul,  even  when  I 
had  merited  an  everlasting  rejection.  0,  that  the  sense  of  his 
mercy  might  ever  cover  and  clothe  our  spirits  to  such  a  degree 
of  humble  diligence,  as  to  excite  to  a  faithful  following  and  ser- 
vice of  him  who  is  ever  worthy  of  fear  and  obedience.  In  this, 
and  this  only,  we  shall  rejoice  in  our  lots,  every  one  under^his 
own  fig  tree,  that  has  been  planted,  pruned,  and  made  fruitful 
by  the  cultivation  of  the  right  hand  of  the  great  husbandman. 

On  the  4th  of  last  month,  I  went  towards  the  eastern  shore 
of  Maryland,  to  some  yearly  meetings,  which  I  found  my  mind 
drawn  towards,  and  to  visit  the  meetings  of  Friends  in  that  part 
of  the  province,  and  the  three  lower  counties  belonging  to 
Pennsylvania ;  in  which  visit  I  was  mercifully  often  favoured 
with  strength  to  labour  to  my  comfort,  and  true  ease  of  spirit, 
being  often  remarkably  opened  into  the  states  of  the  meetings 
and  individuals  where  I  came  ;  but  alas,  the  state  of  the  church 
is  very  low  thereaway,  their  numbers  small,  but  their  care  and 
zeal  for  truth  in  general  less  than  their  numbers,  so  that  I  could 
not  avoid  a  daily  pain  of  heart  on  their  account,  whilst  with 
them.  The  cause  seems  to  me  much  in  their  heads,  and  such 
as  ought  to  be  their  leaders  in  precept  and  examples,  and  by  a 
contrary  conduct  are  become  indeed  the  tail  of  the  people,  as 
will  ever  be  the  case  where  people  seek  to  live  and  grow  strong, 
and  not  by  heavenly  food. 

To-morrow  I  propose  to  leave  this  place,  and  go  through  a 
course  of  meetings  to  the  remotest  part  of  Virginia,  amongst 


160 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1754. 


some  newly  settled  meetings.  I  expect  to  travel  500  miles, 
without  much  turn  out  of  a  direct  line.  I  salute  you  nearly 
and  tenderly,  and  am  your  affectionate  brother, 

S.  F. 


The  intimate  friendship  and  frequent  correspondence  main- 
tained by  Samuel  Fothergill  with  Israel  Pemberton,  his  brothers, 
and  others  of  the  family,  demand  that  some  brief  account  of 
them  should  be  here  inserted. 

Their  ancestor,  Phineas  Pemberton,  was  born  near  Wigan, 
in  Lancashire,  in  1650.  He  was  an  early  and  active  member 
of  Hardshaw  Monthly  Meeting,  residing  then  at  Bolton,  where 
he  endured  much  persecution  for  his  faithfulness  in  supporting 
the  testimonies  of  the  Society  of  Friends  ;  he  had  also  suffered 
in  the  same  cause  whilst  an  apprentice  at  Manchester. 

In  common  with  many  others,  who,  about  that  time,  sought 
a  country  where  they  might  serve  God  unmolested,  and  enjoy 
the  rights  of  religious  freedom  undisturbed  by  persecution,  he 
embarked  for  America  in  the  year  1682,  with  his  wife  and  his 
aged  father,  having  many  others  of  their  company,  to  the  num- 
ber of  fifty-two  persons  in  all.  This  was  about  the  time  of  the 
settlement  of  Pennsylvania  by  William  Penn  ;  they  landed  in 
that  province,  and  found  that  he  had  arrived  six  days  before 
them.  When  they  came  to  the  place  where  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia now  stands,  they  could  not  procure  any  accommodation 
for  their  horses,  "  so  they  spancelled  them,  and  turned  them 
out  into  the  woods." 

Phineas  bought  a  tract  of  land  near  the  river  Delaware, 
where  he  long  resided,  a  useful  member  of  Society,  and  filled 
with  reputation  several  offices  in  the  province.*  He  died  in 
1702. 

*  In  1697  he  was  a  Member  of  ihe  Council,  and  Speaker  of  tho 
Assembly. 


JETAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


161 


His  son  Israel  was  born  in  1684.  He  was  a  man  of  a  calm, 
even,  and  cheerful  disposition,  and  his  mind  improved  and  en- 
riched with  the  principles  of  true  religion;  this  rendered  his 
whole  life  an  instructive  example  of  the  Christian  virtues.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  considerable  merchants  of  Philadelphia, 
and  was,  for  nineteen  years  successively,  a  representative  for 
that  city  in  the  General  Assembly.  He  died  in  1754,  much 
esteemed  and  beloved,  for  his  great  hospitality,  talents,  and 
integrity. 

His  three  sons,  Israel,  James,  and  John  Pemberton,  were 
all  of  them  eminent  and  valuable  men  in  their  day,  useful  in 
their  respective  stations,  and  for  a  long  period  took  an  active 
and  prominent  part  in  the  concerns  of  the  Society,  as  well 
as  in  some  of  the  affairs  more  at  large  of  their  native  city 
and  province. 

In  the  letters  of  Samuel  Fothergill  to  them  there  may  be  ob- 
served, not  only  the  plain  and  honest  manner  in  which  he  ex- 
pressed his  affectionate  feelings  for  their  welfare,  but  also  the 
remarkable  and  clear  sense  which  he  had  of  their  respective 
states,  and  of  the  difficulties  to  which  each  of  them  was  exposed 
by  character,  by  mental  constitution,  or  other  circumstances ; 
and  the  peculiar  fitness  of  his  affectionate  counsel  and  exhorta- 
tions to  the  three  brothers  is  very  striking. 

Israel,  the  eldest,  was  a  man  of  great  powers  of  mind,  of  a 
clear  and  sound  judgment,  yet  of  a  quick  and  ardent  tempera- 
ment, against  which  he  had  often  to  contend,  but  he  was  enabled 
to  yield  in  good  measure  to  the  subduing  and  regulating  power 
of  Truth.  He  was  extensively  engaged  in  commerce,  and  in 
benevolent  pursuits.    He  died  in  1779,  aged  64. 

James,  the  second  son,  received  a  liberal  education;  and 
his  parents  took  care  early  to  instil  into  the  minds  of  all 
their  children  a  regard  and  reverence  for  those  great  prin- 
ciples of  Truth,  by  which  his  future  life  was  regulated.  His 
mother,  Rachael  Pemberton,  watched  the  early  unfoldings 
of  his  mind,  and  hoped  much  from  the  mildness  of  temper 
23 


162 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1754. 


and  steadiness  of  conduct  which  he  early  manifested.  Nor  was 
she  disappointed  ;  whilst  he  often  bore  decisive  testimony,  and 
particularly  when  near  the  close  of  his  long  and  useful  life,  to 
the  deep  obligation  he  had  been  under  for  her  tender  and  judi- 
cious care. 

His  intellectual  powers  were  great,  and  highly  cultivated. 
Possessed  of  ample  pecuniary  means,  endowed  with  a  sound 
judgment,  and  influenced  by  the  most  enlarged  benevolence,  he 
was  ever  found  ready  to  devote  his  powers,  his  time,  and  his 
substance,  to  the  promotion  of  the  good  of  his  fellow  creatures. 
Of  the  public  chartered  schools  of  Philadelphia  he  was  early 
elected  an  overseer  or  governor)  by  the  voice  of  his  fellow-citi- 
zens ;  and  of  the  various  hospitals,  and  other  benevolent  institu- 
tions, he  was  a  liberal  benefactor,  and  took  an  active  share  in 
their  management.  With  his  brother  Israel,  he  was  the  steady 
friend  and  advocate  of  the  oppressed  African  race,  and  of  the 
Indian  tribes.  They  were  botli  at  one  period  members  of  the 
state  legislature,  and  possessed  considerable  influence,  which 
they  often  exerted  on  behalf  of  the  latter-named  people. 

He  filled  with  ability  and  reputation  many  oflices  in  the  reli- 
gious society  of  Friends.  Of  the  Meeting  for  Suflerings  he  was 
a  member  from  its  first  establishment  in  1756,  until,  in  the 
Yearly  Meeting  of  1808  he  publicly  resigned  his  place,  on  ac- 
count of  his  advanced  age  and  increasing  infirmities. 

In  the  year  1777,  he,  with  his  two  brothers,  and  seventeen 
other  Friends,  were  unjustly  seized  by  the  government,  and 
without  being  informed  what  was  alleged  against  them,  were 
taken  from  their  families  and  homes,  and  sent  under  a  military 
guard  to  a  distant  province,  where  they  were  detained  as  prison- 
ers several  months. 

His  temperate  life,  and  the  evenness  and  placidity  of  his 
temper,  contributed  to  his  length  of  days,  smoothed  and 
softened  the  decline  of  life,  and  rendered  the  approach  to 
its  final  close  easy,  and  almost  imperceptible.  He  often 
contemplated  with  steady  attention,  and  without  fear,  that 


I 


jCTAT.  39.  OF  SAMVEL  FOTHERGILL.  163 

solemn  period  ^  and  in  the  second  month,  1809,  he  quietly- 
departed,  in  the  86th  year  of  his  age. 

John  Pemberton,  the  youngest  of  the  three  brothers,  was  a 
humble,  diffident  man,  gifted  with  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit :  his 
fearful ness  often  led  him  into  deep  provings  and  mental  conflicts, 
ere  he  felt  sufficient  confidence  to  yield  a  full  and  unreserved 
obedience  to  required  duty.  To  him  was  given  the  kind  word 
of  encouragement,  whilst  his  brothers  appeared  more  to  require, 
during  their  earlier  days,  the  calming  and  cautionary  counsel  of 
an  experienced  fellow  traveller  and  faithful  friend,  like  Samuel 
Fothergill. 

John  Pemberton  was  well  known  as  a  minister  ;  he  travelled 
extensively  in  this  capacity  in  his  native  land,  and  three  times 
visited  Europe.  He  first  came  over  with  John  Churchman 
and  William  l^rown,  the  former  of  whom  he  accompanied 
through  many  parts  of  England,  and  also  into  Holland. 

His  next  visit  was  in  1783,  in  company  with  William  Mat- 
thews. On  their  voyage  they  were  taken  prisoners,  and  carried 
into  France.  He  had  extensive  service  amongst  those  not  of 
the  same  religious  profession  with  himself,  particularly  in  the 
north  of  Scotland.  He  spent  upwards  of  six  years  in  diligent 
labour  during  this  visit,  and  returned  to  America  in  1789. 

Finding  himself  once  more  engaged  in  religious  concern  to 
visit  Europe,  he  embarked  in  1794,  landed  in  Holland,  and 
proceeded  thence  to  Pyrmont  in  Germany,  where,  after  about 
four  months  spent  in  religious  labour,  he  departed  this  life,  on 
the  3lst  of  1st  Month,  1795,  aged  67, 

Their  mother,  Rachael  Pemberton,  was  the  daughter  of 
Charles  Read,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania.  She 
was  indeed  as  a  "  mother  in  Israel,"  and  was  distinguished  by 
her  care  over  her  own  family,  her  sympathy  with  those  under 
affliction  of  body  or  mind,  and  her  great  hospitality  and  kind- 
ness, particularly  to  those  who  were  called  to  travel  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry ;  to  such  her  house  was  ever  open,  both  during 


164  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [l754. 

the  life  of  her  husband  and  afterwards.  She  died  in  1765,  a! 
the  age  of  74. 

Mary  Pemberton,  the  wife  of  Israel,  was  also  a  valuable 
and  experienced  elder.  The  removal  of  her  husband  into  exile, 
in  1777,  was  a  great  affliction  to  her  ;  and,  as  she  expressed, 
she  believed  it  would  tend  to  shorten  her  stay  in  this  world. 

She  fell  into  a  gradual  decay  during  his  absence,  and  some 
time  after  he  was  restored  to  his  family,  she  thus  addressed 
him  : — "  It  is  now  evident  to  me,  my  dear,  that  we  must  soon 
"  part ;  we  have  passed  through  many  deep  trials  ;  there  is 
"  nothing  between  us  but  true  love,  and  great  affection  ;  I  hope. 
*'  thou  wilt  be  kept  in  true  resignation.  I  had  some  hope  of 
"  continuing  some  time  longer,  both  on  thy  account  and  that 
*'  of  our  dear  grand-daughter  ;  but  I  am  not  solicitous  about  it, 
*'  not  very  solicitous." 

She  peacefully  departed  this  life  in  the  10th  Month,  1778„ 
aged  74  years. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEMBERTON. 

Opechan,  12th  Mo.,  4th,  1754. 
In  expectation  of  thy  dear  husband's  being  set  out 
to  meet  me,  I  address  this  to  thee,  to  let  thee  know  where  I 

now  am   I  have,  with  a  reverently  bowed  spirit,  ta 

inform  thee,  I  am  well  every  way.  My  health  is  maintained 
beyond  my  hopes  ;  and,  what  is  more,  and  a  deeper  cause  of 
gratitude  and  inward  worship  to  the  Most  High,  his  holy  arm 
is  near  to  sustain  in  labour,  to  his  own  honour,  and  the  help  of 
some.  To  his  worthy  name  be  all  the  gain  consecrated,  for  it 
is  his  due. 

My  passage  seems  through  briars  and  thonis,  and  my 
tvalking  as  amongst  the  tombs  of  the  dead,  a  too  general 
languor  having  spread  amongst  the  people  ;  nevertheless,  the 
Lord,  terrible  in  righteousness,  is  nigh  at  hand  to  conduct 
forwards,  renewing  strong  evidence  that  I  am  in  my  proper  line.- 


I 


jETAt.  39.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGlLL.  165 

Tliis  consideration,  dear  friend,  is  a  fruitful  source  of  comfort 
in  many  times  of  deep  wading.  Oh,  that  we,  and  each  of  the 
family,  may  fix  it  in  full  view,  as  the  mark  of  the  prize.  Satis- 
fied I  am,  many  would  have  wings  given  them,  tiiat  now  lie 
as  amongst  tlie  pots,  and  the  Father's  name  become  famous 
amongst  the  ten  thousands  of  his  true  Israelites.  My  soul 
salutes  thee  in  the  fresh  sense  of  living  help  revealed  near ;  and 
begs,  as  for  myself,  immoveable  perseverance,  and  increase  in 
faithfulness  ;  that  the  residue  of  hindering  things  may  be  fully 
fanned  away,  and  we  may  come  up  in  our  lots  here,  and  re- 
main in  glorious  ones  for  ever. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Curles-upon- James'  River,  in  Virginia, 
12th  Mo.,  13th,  1754. 

In  daily  and  affectionate  remembrance,  though  far  out* 
Wardly  separated,  for  the  cause  and  testimony  of  the  Lord  our 
God,  yet  never  more  livingly  and  comfortably  near  in  spirit 
since  our  first  acquaintance  ;  with  all  the  tender  affection  and 
sympathy  so  tender  a  relation  claims,  yet  without  repining  at 
my  lot,  or  lookmg  painfully  homewards,  being  sensible  the  un- 
changeable Shepherd  is  all-sufficient  to  keep  and  bless,  wherever 
or  however  scattered,  if  suitable  care  remains  not  to  scatter 
from  him. 

I  find  something  in  the  climate  peculiarly  favourable  to  my 
constitution.  Have  had  good  travelling  weatlier,  and  not  any 
severe  cold  ;  some  rain  swelled  the  rivers  as  I  came  along,  and 
we  were  obliged  to  pass  them  in  small  canoes  ourselves,  and 
swim  our  horses— a  circumstance  I  much  dreaded  before  I  left 
England,  but  am  now  reconciled  to  it,  and  many  other  things 
that  seem  like  hardships  ;  but  I  am  made  perfectly  easy,  and 
the  day  is  sufficient  for  the  evil  thereof.  I  have  hitherto  slept 
Under  a  roof,  though  sometimes  a  miserable  one,  and  neverthe- 


166 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1754. 


less  have  been  preserved  from  taking  any  cold  that  has  been 
troublesome.  I  expect  to  rest  at  this  place  two  or  three  days, 
and  then  to  proceed  in  my  visit  to  the  residue  of  this  province, 
North  Carohna,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia,  in  which  route 
I  cannot  avoid  some  nights  in  the  woods  ;  but  the  climate  there 
is  very  warm,  and  even  at  that  time  of  the  year  the  days  pretty 
long  ;  in  this  place,  where  I  am,  this  day  is  two  hours  and  four 
minutes  longer  than  it  is  in  England,  and  I  have  550  miles 
almost  due  south  to  proceed,  before  I  can  see  it  my  way  to 
turn  back  again. 

The  state  of  the  Church  in  this  province  is  low  and  painful ; 
those  advanced  in  years,  in  general,  very  insensible  of  true  feel- 
ing, or  suitable  zeal  for  truth's  advancement  in  themselves,  their 
families,  or  the  Church  ;  my  passage  amongst  them  has  been 
close,  laborious,  and,  in  some  places,  I  believe,  strengthened  to 
awake  and  alarm  the  careless,  to  their  help,  and  the  renewing 
cause  of  secret  worship  to  the  Lord  Almighty,  that  he  has  hith- 
erto answered  the  humble  petition  of  my  heart,  not  to  leave  me 
destitute  of  His  holy  presence  in  this  remote  and  desert  land  ; 
and  his  word  has  indeed  been  as  a  flame  of  fire,  and  the  house 
of  Esau  as  stubble  ;  but  it  is  the  most  exercising,  laborious 
work  I  ever  was  engaged  in,  being  concerned  to  visit  every 
small  meeting,  and  many  of  their  families,  and  when  that  is  done 
to  collect  four  or  five  meetings  together,  as  a  general  meeting, 
to  take  my  leave  of  them. 

This  manner  of  labour  requires  time,  and  prevents  my  getting 
hastily  forwards ;  but  I  came  for  peace,  and  must  not  over-run 
it ;  and  the  sure  Helper  and  reward  of  his  people  is  eminently 
near  to  help,  to  the  praise  of  his  mighty  name,  and  the  revival 
of  his  plantation  amongst  the  rising  generation,  some  of  whom 
his  blessed  hand  is  upon  for  good.  I  am  favoured  with  the  com- 
pany of  a  worthy  innocent  Friend,  an  elder,  from  Philadelphia ; 
his  name,  Edward  Catherall.  I  expect  Israel  Pemberton  here 
this  day,  to  accompany  me  southwards,  and  then  E.  C.  returns 
He  has  travelled  with  me  about  1 200  miles,  and  been  very  service- 


^TAT.  39.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL, 


167 


able  ;  and  has  sometimes,  though  against  my  will,  stepped  in 
between  me  and  expense. 

I  am  humbly  thankful  to  the  all-sufficient  Hand,  for  the  con- 
tinued evidence  of  his  blessed  regard  ;  and  strong  hope  prevails 
he  will  not  be  unmindful  of  thee,  and  my  little  concerns  at 
home,  but  by  his  blessed  Providence  make  hard  things  easy, 
and  enable,  with  patience,  and  careful  diligence,  to  act  our 
several  parts,  to  our  comfort  in  him  and  one  in  another. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  AND  SISTER, 

Curles-upon- James'  River,  Virginia, 
12lh  Mo.,  13th,  1754. 

I  have,  through  the  continued  favour  of  the  never- 
failing  Fountain  of  all  good,  to  inform  you,  my  health  is  pre- 
served to  my  admiration  ;  I  remember  not  eleven  weeks  spent 
for  some  years  with  less  interruption  of  health  than  those  I 
have  spent  in  these  parts  ;  though  various  circumstances  of 
hardship  have  attended,  particularly  cold  lodging,  little  better 
than  in  the  woods,  yet  have  not  been  affected  by  any  cold,  or 
found  any  inconvenience  afterwards  attending.  I  find  my 
bodily  strength  renewed,  and  ability  given  to  undergo  seeming 
hardships  wiih  very  great  ease.  I  mention  this  circumstance 
of  heahh  with  a  grateful  heart  towards  him  who  is  Lord  of  all, 
the  support  of  body  and  soul,  and  before  whom  they  ought 
both  to  be  altars  whence  the  sacrifice  of  awful  worship  should 
often  ascend. 

I  have,  since  I  wrote  last,  visited  some  meetings  which  lay 
remote  in  the  distant  back  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland, 
and  Virginia,  having  crossed  the  great  river  Susquehanna,  about 
eighty  miles  west  of  Philadelphiai  and  visited  the  meetings  of 
Friends  along  the  Blue  Mountains,  and  thence  returned  130 
miles  through  a  country  void  of  Friends,  into  the  more  in- 
habited part  of  this  colony.    Have  hitherto  visited  all  the 


168  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1754. 

settled  meetings  of  Friends  in  my  course,  however  small  and 
low,  and  indeed  sorrowful  is  the  state  of  the  Church  in  these 
parts :  the  same  painful  stupidity  of  heart,  which  has  covered 
the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  and  too  many  in  Pennsylvania, 
seems  here  also  to  spread,  and  benumb  the  people,  more  espe- 
cially amongst  those  advancing  into,  or  near  old  age  ;  there  are 
some  living  young  people  amongst  them,  but  the  crooked  foot- 
steps of  the  old  professors  in  part,  and  the  lethargy  of  those  more 
morally  clean,  seem  to  threaten  the  utter  extirpation  of  the  pro- 
fession from  various  parts  of  this  province.  I  have  been  led 
into  very  close  and  laborious  work  amongst  them,  in  their  meet- 
ings and  in  their  families,  and  to  visit  particulars,  to  my  own 
secret  ease  and  comfort  in  the  discharge  of  my  duty,  though 
through  the  hardest  labour  that  I  ever  yet  met  with  in  public  and 
private.  But  the  strong  support  of  ever-blessed  Help  has  been 
very  wonderfully  near,  and  has  answered  the  petition  that  has 
often  arisen  from  my  soul,  deeply  and  anxiously  bowed,  that  he 
would  not  leave  me  destitute  of  his  strength  and  help  in  a  remote 
land,  but  accompany  and  lead  me  in  every  part  of  my  passage, 
that  though  separated  from  many  near  and  dear  to  my  life, 
amongst  the  nearest  whereof  I  rank  you,  I  might  not  be  separated 
from  the  holy  Presence,  or  unacquainted  with  the  renewal  thereof 
every  day.  And  it  is  with  a  heart  at  this  time  covered  with 
reverence,  I  have  to  acknowledge  he  hath  not  failed  to  help  me 
to  labour  faithfully  to  some  service  in  divers  places,  to  the 
awakening  and  the  help  of  some  on  their  way,  and  the  comfort  of 
the  scattered  remnant  of  the  true  Israelites  ;  some  of  the  younger 
class  seem  under  the  visitation  of  the  blessed  planting  hand,  to 
whom  my  heart  has  been  drawn  with  lively  encouragement  to 
hold  on  their  way,  and  though  rejected  by  their  natural  parents, 
with  respect  to  any  religious  oversight  and  help,  the  eye  of  the 
Father  of  the  whole  family  both  in  heaven  and  earth  seems 
over  them ;  may  their  eye  be  unto  him,  for,  alas  !  all  instru- 
mental assistance  seems  cut  off  from  their  earth.  I  am 
obliged  for  peace'  sake,  after  I  have  visited  three  or  four 
meetings,  to  collect  them  together,  to  take  my  leave  of  them, 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


169 


and  though  it  makes  my  passage  slow,  yet  it  brings  peace,  an<i 
that  I  came  for,  and  would  gladly  bring  with  me,  if  ever  I  revi- 
sit my  native  land. 

It  is  not  unlikely  but  the  rumour  of  some  damage  done  in  the 
back  parts  of  South  Carolina,  by  the  Indians,  has  before  this 
reached  England,  and  may  give  some  uneasy  apprehensions ;  I 
had  an  opportunity  of  conversing  with  a  person  lately  returned 
from  that  neighbourhood,  who  informed  me  that  the  bodies  of  six- 
teen English  were  found  murdered,  and  nine  were  missing,  who, 
being  principally  women,  were  supposed  to  be  carried  into  cap- 
tivity. By  what  Indians  the  act  was  committed,  is  only  con- 
jecture ;  some  Northern  Indians  were  seen  to  march  through 
the  back  settlements  of  Virginia  and  Maryland.  It  is  generally 
thought  the  English  were  settling  themselves  very  fast  on  a 
piece  of  fine  hunting  land  belonging  to  the  Indians,  without  giv- 
ing them  satisfaction  for  it,  and  had  been  warned  off  by  them, 
but  disregarding  it,  received  this  severe  token  of  Indian  displea- 
sure. It  is  remote  from  the  settlement  of  Friends,  and  far  from 
mv  route. 

S.  F. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  TABITHA  ECROYD.* 

Curles-upon- James'  River,  in  Virginia, 
12lh  Mo.,  14th,  1754. 

Thou  hast  for  some  weeks  been  the  frequent  com- 
panion of  my  thoughts,  with  true  nearness  and  strong  regard  for 

*  Tabitha  Ecroyd  was  the  daughter  of  Richard  and  Susannah  Ecroyd, 
of  Marsden,  in  Lancashire,  and  was  born  in  the  year  1724.  She  bent  early 
to  the  visitations  of  Divine  grace  ;  many  deep  baptisms  and  conflicts  of  spirit 
were  her  portion  ;  these  she  endured  with  patience,  and  in  the  twenty-sixth 
year  of  her  age  came  forth  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  and  became  a  dili- 
gent and  faithful  labourer  therein.  About  two  years  after  her  marriage 
with  Richard  Marriott,  of  Mansfield,  ihey  removed  to  Marsden,  and  there 
she  continued  to  reside  until  her  death  in  1786. 
23 


170 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1754. 


thee,  and  desires  for  thy  safety,  and  a  progress  on  thy  way  to- 
ward Zion,  and  I  found  this  evening  an  openness  of  heart  to 
write  to  thee  a  salutation  of  true  brotherly  kindness,  to  encourage 
and  caution  for  thy  help  ;  for  though  my  house  may  not  have 
been  so  with  God  as  that  of  some  others,  I  am  not  void  of  expe- 
rience in  the  way  to  New  Jerusalem  ;  1  consecrate  the  gain  to 
God,  and  dedicate  my  strength  and  labour  to  his  service,  and 
the  help  of  my  fellow-travellers.  Convinced  I  am,  dear  friend, 
the  Lord  Almighty  has  given  thee  a  name  in  his  holy  household, 
and  consecrated  thee  in  measure  to  his  service. 

What  lives  upon  my  heart  towards  thee  is — Keep  with  dili- 
gence the  earnest  of  adoption  upon  thy  own  spirit ;  seek,  seek 
incessantly,  to  know  the  inscription  and  mark  of  the  family  clear 
and  evident  upon  thee  ;  it  is  at  times  written  and  imprinted  in 
characters  so  evident,  that  ourselves,  and  even  by-standers,  may 
easily  perceive  it ;  this  affluence,  in  an  unguarded  heart,  pro- 
duces ease  and  relaxation  of  spirit ;  then  is  the  time  Lucifer 
arises,  and  whispers  to  the  soul  that  dangerous  doctrine,  Once 
in  grace,  ever  in  grace  ;  and,  Soul,  take  thy  rest  ;  the  Lord  thy 
God  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee.  By  this  means  daily  care 
for  living  bread  ceases,  and  the  remembrance  of  former  bread 
becomes  the  sole  sustenance  of  the  soul,  and  even  that  in  pro- 
cess of  time  becomes  less  cared  for,  another  support  having 
been  chosen.  Under  the  law,  many  animals  were  deemed  clean 
who  chewed  the  cud  ;  but  when  the  victuals  have  been  received 
in  gross,  and,  by  the  power  of  revulsion,  brought  a  second  time 
upon  the  palate,  and  chewed,  they  turn  to  nourishment,  but  are 
never  again  to  be  eaten  as  food,  but  fresh  must  be  sought  for,  or 
death  soon  ensues.  Oh  !  therefore,  cleave  to  the  Feeder  of  his 
people  ;  receive  what  he  hands  forth  ;  there  is  a  blessing  in 
it,  though  it  be  the  bread  and  water  of  affliction  :  low,  painful 
times  are  often  strongly  and  blessedly  helpful,  and  produce 
a  careful  search  and  holy  inquiry.  If  the  precious  piece  of 
money  be  lost,  to  sweep  the  house  clean,  by  the  searching 
power,  has  often,  nay  always,  been  attended  with  success, 


jETAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


171 


as  the  only  method  of  finding  it  again.  In  these  purified 
hearts,  the  word  of  the  Lord  God  will  grow,  and  the  plant 
of  renown  will  shoot  vigorously,  and  spread  over  the  wall, 
and  the  branches  thereof  spread  to  the  ministry  of  the  word 
to  others.  That  lamentable  dwarfishness  which  attends  some, 
is,  I  am  persuaded,  much  owing  to  the  want  of  proper  cul- 
tivation, and  deep  labour  for  spiritual  sonship  ;  for  the  Lord, 
our  holy  head,  would  have  his  children  resemble  himself  in 
beauty,  and  their  faces  like  those  of  the  sons  of  princes  of 
the  immortal  family.  His  voice  is  heard  distinctly — the  cry — 
the  what — the  when — are  all  intelligible  to  these  souls  ;  their 
ears  are  quick  of  understanding,  and  their  hearts  prompt  to 
knowledge.  If  heavenly  favour  be  their  covering,  their  safe 
dwelling  is  in  ashes  ;  if  tossing  and  low  times  attend,  the  Lord 
is  the  stability  of  their  salvation  ;  if  snares  and  temptations 
attend,  they  hear  the  ancient  call,  "  Arise,  my  love,  my  fair 
one,  and  come  away."  Oh  my  friend,  beloved  in  and  for  the 
Truth,  that  thy  lot  may  be  in  this  safe  enclosure  of  the  walls  of 
salvation,  and  I  am  satisfied  in  heart  that  the  Lord  would  make 
thee  an  instrument  of  good  in  his  hand.  Do  thou  cleave  in  soul 
to  him,  and  if  he  should  put  thee  seemingly  up,  and  lay  by 
from  service  in  public,  quietly  bear  the  dispensation  of  his  pro- 
vidence ;  awake  not  thy  beloved  until  he  please.  The  Lord 
of  all  mercy  preserve  thee  chaste  to  himself;  guard  thee  from 
incumbrances  of  every  kind,  that  he  alone  may  be  the  object  in 
thy  view  — thy  morning  light,  and  evening  song.  Amen,  Amen 
saith  my  soul,  for  thee,  myself,  and  all  his  visited,  the  world  over. 

I  have  travelled  very  closely,  being  preserved  in  my  health 
admirably ;  I  have  not  been  on  shore  twelve  weeks,  but  have 
travelled  above  1,200  miles,  and  have  had  near  seventy  public 
meetings.  A  lively  remnant  remains  in  this  land,  principally 
of  the  rising  generation,  and  advancing  towards  middle  life  ; 
many  of  the  elders  are  dead,  and  some,  though  alive  in  the 
body,  are  dead  to  God  in  the  sense  of  Truth.  I  have  often 
been  deeply  baptized  into  distress  and  suflering  on  their 


172 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[175  5 


account,  but  with  a  soul  covered  wilh  deep  reverence  before 
all-sufficient  Help.  I  have  to  say  his  powerful  hand  has  been 
wonderfully  made  bare,  and  his  word  has  been  as  a  fire  in  the 
MoLinl  of  Esau,  dreadfully  alarming  to  the  forgetful  and  obdu- 
rate ;  holy  balsam  to  the  wounded  has  been  near  ;  remember  it, 
O  my  soul,  with  trembling  ! 

Accept,  dear  friend,  this  salutation  in  good  part ;  it  is  the 
language  of  a  soul  solicitous  in  a  strong,  secret  manner,  for  thy 
welfare. 

S.  F. 

SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL  TO  HER  HUSBAND. 

Warrington,  1st  Mo.,  12th,  1755. 

 It  gave  both  me  and  thy  friends  great  satis- 
faction to  hear  of  thy  safe  arrival  and  good  health,  and  of  the 
regard  of  heavenly  protection  and  help,  and  thy  evidence  of 
peace  was  more  than  all ;  indeed,  I  did  not  doubt  but  Divine 
Providence,  who  was  pleased  to  call  thee  from  thy  native  land 
in  his  service,  would  be  near  to  thee,  and  be  thy  support  and 
strength  in  every  needful  time.  My  spirit  is  often  wilh  thee, 
and  my  soul  often  bows  in  reverent  thankfulness  to  the  fountain 
of  all  our  mercies,  on  thy  account,  and  likewise  on  my  own  ; 
having  with  humble  thankfulness  to  say,  he  has  helped  me 
hitherto,  and  hath  renewed  my  strength  ;  he  has,  at  times,  lifted 
up  his  countenance  upon  me,  and  replenished  my  soul  wilh  his 
goodness,  so  that  I  have  no  cause  to  murmur  or  repine,  nor  ever 
have  since  our  separation  ;  being  made  sensible  that  it  was  the 
will  of  Providence  ;  and  he  has  been  pleased  to  endow  me  wilh 
strength  freely  to  resign  thee,  believing  that  he  that  called  thee 
from  me  could  in  his  own  time  restore  thee  to  me  again,  and  so 
has  he  been  pleased  to  stay  my  mind  on  him.  I  have  had 
great  peace  of  mind,  and  a  secret  belief  that  he  would  be  thy 
guide  and  support,  and  conduct  ihee  safely  on  thy  journey. 
 Be  not  in  haste,  wherever  thou  comes ;  do  not  let 


^TAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


173 


any  place  slip  that  thou  mayest  have  the  least  glimpse  of  service 
in,  be  it  ever  so  small,  or  whether  in  meetings  or  families  ;  de- 
liberate and  wait,  to  know  whether  there  be  not  something  re- 
quired, and  if  thou  find  anything  left  short,  where  thou  hast 
been,  it  is  better  to  return  to  the  place  and  finish  the  work.  I 
hope  and  believe  Providence  will  be  with  thee,  and  be  thy  guide. 

Susanna  Fothergill. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Charleston,  South  Carolina,  2d  Mo.,  13th,  1755. 

Sincd  I  wrote  from  Waynoak  1  have  visited  all  the  residue 
of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  late  last  night  arrived  here, 
and  have  had  a  meeting  here  this  day,  amongst  a  poor  misera- 
able  handful  of  professors,  and  believe  I  must  visit  all  their 
families  before  I  can  easily  leave  the  place.  I  expect  to  be  in 
Georgia,  150  miles  south  of  this  place,  some  time  next  week, 
and  then  return  northwards,  800  miles,  upon  a  line,  without 
much  stop,  except  seven  meetings  which  I  left  as  I  came  south- 
wards. 

The  winter  hereaway  has  been  remarkably  pleasant ;  the  prin- 
cipal inconvenience  has  been  the  heats  we  have  met  with;  some- 
times in  the  last  month  ourselves  and  horses  were  obliged  to  layby 
for  some  hours  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  to  avoid  the  excessive 
heats.  On  the  29th  last  month  we  were  overtaken  in  the  even- 
ing by  a  violent  storm  of  thunder,  lightning,  and  rain,  and  were 
lost  in  the  woods.  With  much  difficulty  we  got  a  fire  made, 
and  stood  round  it  in  most  violent  rain  until  almost  midnight, 
when  some  dogs  at  a  plantation  directed  us  to  it,  by  their  barking 
at  our  fire,  and  the  howling  of  the  wolves  about  us. 

On  the  2d  instant,  after  a  ride  of  fifty  miles,  we  were  obliged 
to  lie  in  the  woods  all  night,  and  though  the  scene  was  unusual 
and  the  night  pretty  cold,  I  don't  find  I  have  got  any  cold,  or 
am  any  way  disordered  by  it,  being  fully  sensible — Sufficient 
is  the  day  for  the  evil  thereof. 


174 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


I  am  humbly  thankful  to  the  Lord  Almighty  for  all  his  mer- 
cies, amongst  which,  I  esteem  it  a  singular  one  to  be  enabled 
patiently  to  bear  a  separation  from  thee,  which  at  first  seemed 
like  a  most  painful  division  ;  and  although  no  time  of  our  being 
united  together  has  passed  in  which  thou  wast  dearer  to  me,  or 
my  affections  stronger  than  at  this  time,  yet  I  am  comfortably 
easy,  in  hopes  we  may  afresh  be  favoured  with  a  personal  re- 
union. May  the  Shepherd  of  Israel  be  our  keeper,  and  his 
everlasting  dew  rest  long  upon  our  branches. 

My  companion,  Israel  Pemberton,  is  agreeable  and  helpful  in 
various  respects,  and  hope  he  will  receive  some  profit  from  this 
journey. 

I  have  this  day  had  a  large,  good  meeting,  to  my  satisfaction  ; 
but  the  meeting-house  being  small,  was  inconvenient.  Most  of 
the  principal  inhabitants  attended,  and  I  expect  the  use  of  the 
Baptist  Meeting-house  on  first  day  evening,  to  take  leave  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  place,  who  have  given  general  instances 
of  their  regard. 

George  Whitfield  passed  through  this  town  a  few  days  agoi 
for  Georgia,  having  travelled  very  hard  from  Philadelphia,  to 
get  to  his  flock  before  we  came  amongst  them. 

I  have  now  travelled  2550  miles,  upon  the  continent  of  Ame- 
rica ;  of  which,  one  horse  has  carried  me  1750  ;  he  is  an  excel- 
lent creature,  and  providentially  put  into  my  hands  by  a  friend 
near  Philadelphia.  He  cost  me  about  five  pounds  sterling  ;  he 
travels  with  great  ease  and  safety,  and  sometimes,  like  his  mas- 
ter, with  hard  fare,  and  sometimes  none  at  all,  but  we  both  jog 
on  contentedly.  I  intend  him  to  rest  here  until  my  return  from 
Georgia. 

The  state  of  the  church  is  generally  low,  and  exceedingly  so 
in  this  place  ;  there  is  very  little  of  the  form,  and  much  less  of 
the  power,  of  Truth  amongst  them.  My  heart  has  been  bowed 
into  strong  concern,  and  close  labour  for  and  with  them,  and 
hope  for  some  little  reviving  of  secret  care  in  particular;  but 
alas,  many  seem  awakened  for  a  time,  and  sink  afresh  into  luke- 
warmness. 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


175 


Second  Day  morning,  2d  Mo.,  17th. 
Yesterday  is  comfortably  passed  over ;  the  Baptist 
Meeting-house  was  lent  to  us,  and  we  had  a  large,  crowded 
meeting,  to  memorable  satisfaction,  the  ancient  Helper  vouch- 
safing to  appear  as  mouth  and  wisdom :  to  him  be  all  glory 
ascribed. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Charleston,  2d  Mo.,  26th,  1755. 

I  wrote  to  thee  from  this  place  about  twelve  days 
ago,  since  which  I  have  been  in  Georgia,  and  returned  hither 
last  night ;  having  continued  cause  of  humble  acknowledgments 
to  the  Father  of  all  mercies,  for  his  support  every  way.  I  have 
now  been  to  the  extent  of  my  visit  southward,  being  1 20  miles 
further  than  any  Friend  hath  travelled  on  religious  account,  and 
am  setting  my  face  northwards.  I  propose  another  public 
meeting  in  this  place  to-morrow,  and  then  to  leave. 

We  have  been  much  favoured  with  fine  weather,  and  have 
excellent  roads  ;  the  heat  has  been  rather  troublesome,  but  not 
so  much  as  to  be  very  inconvenient.  Our  road  is  through  woods 
which  are  nearly  always  green,  being  almost  covered  with 
myrtle,  laurel,  and  bay  trees,  which  makes  me  often  forget  the 
time  of  the  year  ;  none  of  the  symptoms  of  our  winters  are  here 
to  be  seen. 

S.  F. 

MARY  PEISLEY  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Wright's  Town,  (in  America,)  2d  Mo.,  27th,  1755. 

The  freedom  and  candour  of  thy  very  acceptable 
favour  has  had  the  happy  tendency  to  set  me  upon  the  strictest 
examination  of  myself  which  my  deceitful  heart  was  capable  of; 


176 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


a  task  to  which  it  was  much  disposed  before  the  receipt  of 
thine  :  it  being  a  season  of  emptying  and  cleansing  :  a  state  and 
dispensation;  which  I  pray  with  my  whole  heart  that  neither 
thou  nor  I  may  ever  get  above,  and  especially  when  we  are 
much  engaged  in  our  Master's  work  ;  for  it  seems  to  me  next 
to  impossible  that  we  should  escape  some  little  spots  and  stains, 
though  we  may  be  ever  so  careful  of  our  clothing,  and  wrap  it 
ever  so  closely  about  us  ;  it  will  get  a  little  soiled,  by  being 
used  every  day.  I  am  sure  mine  does  so,  and  if  I  should  hinder 
my  Master  from  stripping  it  off,  and  washing  both  them  and  me, 
I  should  ere  now  have  made  but  a  very  mean  appearance  in  the 
sight  of  him  who  sees  through  every  false  covering,  the  veil  of 
flesh  and  all  its  seeming  excellencies  ;  beholding  no  beauty  nor 
comeliness  in  any  thing  that  is  not  derived  from  himself,  who 
is  the  only  unmixed  fountain  of  light  and  purity  :  and  what  does 
it  signify,  my  dear  friend,  if  we  appear  naked  and  empty  in  the 
view  of  a  set  of  mortals,  who  are  unacquainted  with  the  Lord's 
ways  and  doings  ?  I  think  I  have  beheld  in  his  light,  and  been 
informed  by  the  instruction  of  his  pure  Spirit,  that  I  have  never 
been  more  amiable  in  his  sight,  nor  attracted  a  greater  degree 
of  his  love,  than  when  my  spirit  has  been  quite  unclothed,  not 
only  of  my  own  righteousness,  but  also  of  the  rich  jewels  of  his 
grace,  and  wandered  about  as  in  sheep  skins  and  goat  skins, 
destitute,  afflicted,  tormented,  in  a  spiritual  as  well  as  a  natural 
sense ;  nor  have  I  ever  had  such  near  fellowship  with  the 
martyrs,  apostles,  and  fellow-sufferers  of  Christ,  as  in  this 
state. 

Mary  Peisley. 

SAMUKL  FOTHERGILL  TO  CATHERINE  PAYTON. 

East  Nottingham,  4th  Mo.,  10th,  1755. 

I  have  often,  and  with  true  sympathy  and  nearness, 
had  thee  in  my  remembrance  since  we  parted,  and  though  I 
have  been  so  situated  as  to  be  disqualified  from  much  cor- 
respondence, my  hands  being  pretty  full  of  labour,  yet  the 


.?STAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  rOTHERGILL. 


177 


various  steps  I  had  to  tread,  in  which  I  often  found  thine  and 
ihy  dear  companion's  footsteps  secretly  united  in  an  inward  in- 
expressible manner,  and  I  found  both  strength  and  comfort  in 
suffering  with  those  who  were  baptized  for  the  dead  ;  and  indeed 
we  may  say,  Good  is  the  word  of  the  Lord,  in  all  its  manifest- 
ations, and  a  tried  buckler  to  the  soul  which  is  bowed,  to  keep 
its  rank  in  the  battle,  within  or  without,  or  both  ;  it  is  often  our 
place  to  know  it  as  a  word  requiring  to  be  kept  in  reverend 
patience,  as  with  our  mouths  in  the  dust,  and  in  deep  empliness 
and  poverty ;  such  has  been  my  lot,  and  the  best  preparation 
for  strength  and  nourishment,  in  measure  according  to  the  will 
of  God.  I  have  not  forgotten  thee,  my  friend  and  sister,  in  the 
faith  and  patience  of  the  gospel  of  Christ;  the  spreading  of 
fraternal  affection  in  Christ,  our  holy  head,  hath  often  reached 
towards  thee,  through  invisible  channels,  with  strong  desires 
and  secret  hope,  that  the  arm  of  holy  kindness  will  sustain, 
and  the  rod  and  staff  of  the  God  of  Jacob  will  be  revealed  to 
us  both,  to  guide  in  the  midst  of  the  paths  of  judgment ;  and 
I  have  found  the  rod  often  necessary  for  my  instruction  in 
righteousness  ;  and  it  is  with  reverence  I  have  to  acknowledge 
there  is  a  love  in  my  heart  to  the  chastening  hand,  which,  per- 
haps, my  own  folly  may  make  more  necessary  for  me  than 
some  other  more  dutiful  and  watchful  children  of  his  house. 
Enable  me,  O  Father,  to  sing  of  thy  mercies  and  judgment  all 
the  days  of  my  appointed  time. 

I  have  travelled  with  diligence  since  I  saw  thee ;  I  left 
South  Carolina  easy  and  cheerful,  having  done  what  seemed 
my  duty.  I  thought,  before  I  reached  Charleston,  that  I 
should  visit  the  adjacent  islands,  but  found  a  prohibition,  though 
they  invited  me ;  they  seem  desirous  the  testimony  should  be 
exalted  by  others,  but  won't  lend  a  hand,  but  according  to  the 

extent  of  their  influence  seem  to  me  to  pull  down.  S  

having  thrown,  voluntarily,  his  children  out  of  the  Society,  I 
had  true  peace  in  plain  dealing  with  them,  and  the  other  liber- 
line  professors  in  that  place. 
24 


178 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


By  a  letter  from  Lydia  Lancaster,  I  have  a  good  account  of 
Isaac  Wilson,  being  a  true-born  son  into  the  ministry,  and  likely 
to  become  serviceable  in  it. 

I  desire,  as  for  myself,  thy  preservation  and  stability  in  the 
truth  of  God,  and  I  cannot  doubt,  all-sufficiency  will  be  near, 
as  a  fountain  at  times  unsealed,  if  we  fail  not  in  suitable  inward 
watchfulness,  and  are  kept  from  repining  at  times  of  searching 
and  sifting,  or  from  being  wanton  when  the  fulness  of  the  house 
may  be  our  portion.  Wisdom  will  lead  in  the  middle  of  the 
paths  of  judgment;  and  if  we  love  her  discipline,  she  will 
cause  us  to  inherit  substance. 

The  affectionate  friendship  which  thine  breathes  is,  with  me, 
reciprocal,  and  so  it  has  been  ever  since  our  first  acquaintance 
suggested  the  most  cordial  desires  for  thy  solid  prosperity,  of 
which  I  have  the  strongest  hopes. 

I  salute  thee  in  the  union  of  a  friendship  which  is  founded 
deeper  than  nature,  and  remains  fixed  beyond  dissolution. 

Thy  sincere  friend, 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Philadelphia,  4th  Mo.,  15th,  1755. 
Through  the  continued  protection  of  the  God  of  all 
strength  and  sure  mercy,  I  have  to  in  form  thee  of  my  safe  re- 
turn in  good  health,  to  this  place,  where  I  am  arrived,  after  a 
journey  of  3,000  miles,  in  about  twenty-four  weeks,  in  which  I 
passed  through  the  remote  mountainous  parts  of  this  province 
and  Virginia,  and  came  down  and  travelled  through  that  prov- 
ince. North  and  South  Carolina,  and  to  Georgia. 

When  we  left  Charleston  we  had  near  450  miles  to  ride  to 
the  next  settlement  of  Friends,  through  a  country  little  inha- 
bited, and  in  which  accommodations  were  scarce  enough, 
though  we  made  shift  to  get  into  some  cabin  or  other  at 
nights,  but  had  not  my  clothes  off  for  several  nights  suc- 
cessively, or  any  thing  at  times  to  lie  down  upon  but  a 


jETAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


179 


bear  skin  or  boards  ;  but  sufficient  was  the  day  for  the  evil 
thereof.  I  was  favoured  with  a  state  of  perfect  good  health, 
and  a  quiet,  patient  acquiescence  with  my  lot,  having  renewed 
reason  to  believe  I  was  where  I  ought  to  be.  It  is  with  a 
humble,  thankful  heart  I  review  the  difficulties  and  jeopardies 
which  have  attended,  and  through  which  gracious  protection 
hath  sustained  me  ;  record  it,  O  my  soul,  in  thine  annals,  to  be 
often  perused  to  thy  humiliation.  I  returned  through  Virginia 
to  the  western  shore  of  Maryland,  and  visited  the  meetings 
thereaway ;  which  was  made  a  time  of  renewed  visitation  to 
many,  and  solid  comfort  in  honest  labour  to  myself.  On  the 
5th  instant,  I  crossed  the  great  river  Susquehanna,  and  came  to 
the  habitation  of  dear  John  Churchman,  where  I  met  with  a  kind 
and  affectionate  reception. 

I  found  not  much  time  for  respite,  and  visited  several  meetings 
in  that  neighbourhood,  in  which  I  had  his  and  his  valuable 
wife's  good  company,  to  our  mutual  satisfaction. 

The  instances  of  mortality  thou  mentions  are  affecting  and 
instructive  hints  to  us,  who,  for  a  short  time  survive,  that  we 
forget  not  that  we  also  are  strangers  here,  and  are  hastily  ad- 
vancing to  an  unchangeable  state. 

The  situation  of  affairs  here  occasions  much  discourse  and 
tossing,  amongst  those  people  who  know  not  the  foundation 
which  stands  sure,  A  considerable  number  of  the  Indians  have 
come  down  hither,  to  remain  until  the  hurries  are  over  ;  the 
vessels  of  the  earth  seem  smiting  one  against  another ;  but  I 
am  not  dismayed  by  any  appearance  of  danger,  nor  drawn  from 
my  quiet  habitation,  in  the  power  of  endless  strength,  to  med- 
dle at  all,  otherwise  than  as  I  am  often  led  to  point  out  the  only 
refuge  and  hiding  place  which  will  protect,  and  labour  to  gather 
the  people's  minds  out  of  that  which  is  wavering  and  unstable, 
to  the  stability  of  the  salvation  of  God. 

I  propose  in  a  few  days  leaving  this  place  and  going  down  to 
New  England,  and  the  parts  adjacent,  which  I  expect  will  take 
about  five  months'  moderate  labour.    As  the  weather  comes  on 


180 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


warm  I  must  relax  my  bow  a  little,  and  travel  with  more  indul- 
gence to  my  body,  and  thou  may  assure  thyself  I  will  endeavour 
to  preserve  a  being  to  which  thou  hast  so  great  and  just  a  claim  : 
ihe  temperate  season,  the  goodness  of  the  roads,  the  meanness 
and  scarcity  of  accommodations,  have  obliged  me  to  hard  travel 
this  season  ;  but  as  there  is  a  total  alteration  in  those  respects, 
the  weather  coming  on  hot,  the  roads  worse,  accommodations 
good,  and  meetings  more  frequent  in  my  way,  shall  travel  with 
more  leisure  than  hitherto. 

My  good  old  faithful  servant,  who  carried  me  about  2400 
miles,  at  last  failed  me ;  I  have  left  him  behind  me  in  Virginia, 
and  yet  hope  some  naore  good  service  from  him  ;  he  travelled 
well  and  very  easy,  and  never  failed  until  he  was  reduced  to 
short  allowance  of  food,  and  sometimes,  poor  creature,  none  at 
all,  unless  I  gave  him  my  Indian  bread,  which  my  own  stomach 
wanted  very  much.  I  was  obliged  to  leave  him  ;  I  had  ihe 
pleasure  of  doing  it  in  good,  careful  hands,  and  bought  another, 
which  I  hope  will  perform  well.  My  expenses  have  run  very 
high,  though  I  have  been  as  frugal  as  the  nature  of  my  journey 
would  admit  of ;  but  being  obliged  to  hire  guides,  at  a  very 
great  expense,  through  the  wilderness  country,  with  various 
other  daily  expenses,  have  made  it  absolutely  necessary  to 
spend  a  deal  of  money. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  JOHN. 

Philadelphia,  4th  Mo.,  17th,  1755. 

Though  we  are  outwardly  far  separated,  yet,  as  it 
is  for  a  cause  dear  to  us  both,  (and  may  it  ever  continue  so,) 
the  secret,  invisible  tie  of  all  the  family  has  not  failed  of 
its  wonted  influence  to  unite  in  that  which  is  stronger  than 
nature ;  in  the  renewing  of  this  hidden  virtue,  I  nearly  and 
affectionately  salute  thee  ;  earnestly  desiring  we  may  redouble 
our  dihgence  in   humble  walking   before   Him  who  hath 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


181 


mercifully  cared  for  us,  hath  followed  us  from  our  tender  years, 
in  mercy  and  judgment,  and  been  more  to  us  than  we  could  ask 
or  expect.  When  I  consider  how  many  of  our  cotemporaries, 
descended  from  worthy  ancestors,  have  been  cast  aside,  and  we 
yet  remain,  monuments  of  mercy,  and  under  the  blessed  notice 
of  the  Lord  Almighty,  and  enabled  in  our  measures  and  gifts 
to  build  up  his  Zion,  my  spirit  is  deeply  bowed,  in  humble, 
reverent  admiration,  and  a  request  raised  for  strength  to  step 
rightly  forward.  And  as  it  is  his  own  arm  which  has  wrought 
for  us  hitherto,  and  not  our  own,  O  that  we  might  be  more  and 
more  devoted  to  his  service,  and  careful  to  watch  every  turning 
of  his  hand,  in  coming  faithfully  up  in  our  very  reasonable 
service.  Difficult  it  is,  dear  brother,  to  keep  our  robes  so  clean 
as  to  stand  with  approbation  in  his  sight,  who  charges  his  angels 
with  folly ;  but  he  is  all-sufficient  in  strength ;  and,  as  we 
steadfastly  eye  him,  not  allowing  the  transient  glare  of  this  world's 
goods  to  ensnare,  he  will  clothe  us  with  the  white  linen  of  saints  ; 
a  better  covering  here,  and  at  an  approaching  hour,  than  all  the 
friendships,  honours,  and  splendours  below  can  ever  furnish. 
Thy  affectionate  care  for  my  health,  and  prudent  cautions 
against  too  much  hurry,  are  marks  of  a  regard  which  shall  not 
be  extended  to  a  person  deaf  to  advice  ;  I  find  their  force  and 
truth,  and  assure  thyself  they  have  that  weight  with  me  thou 
desires.  I  have  found  great  advantage  to  myself,  and  some 
service  to  others,  in  the  families  of  Friends,  from  spending  the 
evenings  in  such  a  manner  as  is  consistent  with  the  end  of  my 
journey  into  these  parts. 

While  the  weather  was  cool  or  temperate,  I  travelled  with 
great  diligence,  yet  left  no  place  until  I  had  carefully  examined 
whether  my  business  was  finished  ;  and  yet  believe  I  must 
return  to  a  Quarterly  Meeting  in  Virginia,  before  I  leave  this 
country  *,  but  the  time  is  not  yet. 

I  have  now  paid  a  very  general  visit  to  Friends  in  Mary- 
land, Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  some  of  the 
remoter  parts  of  this  province  ;  in  which  I  have  been  merci- 


182 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


fully  favoured  with  good  health,  not  being  at  all  hindered  by 
any  indisposition  of  body ;  nor  in  the  whole  journey  of  4,000 
miles  lost  half  a  day  by  bad  weather,  nor  suffered  by  travelling 
in  it.  Our  accommodations  havs  been  such  as  we  could  dis- 
pense with,  much  better,  I  often  thought,  than  our  worthy 
predecessors  in  the  same  labour  could  possibly  have.  And 
although  many  painful,  pinching  times  have  fallen  to  my  lot, 
yet  the  gracious  spring  of  sure  help  hath  been  often  unsealed, 
and  access  vouchsafed  to  the  renewing  of  humble  trust  in  his 
all-sufficiency,  on  which,  whoever  have  carefull}'  leaned,  have 
never  been  left  totally  destitute. 

I  am  disqualified  to  give  thee  any  information  of  the  state  of 
affairs  in  relation  to  the  wars  ;  it  is  not  my  business,  and  have 
found  it  my  concern  to  deny  my  curiosity  in  inquiring  after 
news,  or  hearing  any  thing  about  it.  I  have  found  great  peace 
in  my  endeavours  by  example  and  precept  to  draw  Friends' 
minds  to  their  own  warfare — that  as  our  hands  cannot  be  active, 
so  our  minds  cannot  be  embroiled,  consistently  with  our  testi- 
mony. Here  are  several  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Delawares  come 
down  to  brighten  the  chain. 

Friends  here  are  very  kind,  in  their  frequent  invitations  to 
stay  and  rest  a  while  ;  but  a  succession  of  visitants  from 
morning  to  evening  deprives  me  of  time  to  converse  with  those 
I  have  a  nearer  regard  for,  and  subjects  me  to  more  fatigue  than 
even  daily  travelling,  for  then  I  am  comfortably  soHtary,  and 
often  renew  my  strength.  S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ELLEN  EVANS. 

4th  Mo.,  18th,  1755. 
Had  opportunity  allowed,  I  should,  long  ere  this, 
have  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  thy  [affectionate  lines, 
though  it  is  not  easy  to  express  that  uniting  virtue  which 
cements  the  family  together,  and  brings  them  suddenly  into 
an  acquaintance  and  nearness  of  spirit  that  requires  not 
the  ceremonies  of  the  world's  friendship  to  introduce  nor 


iETAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  183 


its  arts  to  maintain.  I  have  often  been  comforted  in  times  of 
discouragement,  with  this  mark  of  having  passed  from  death 
unto  hfe,  that  I  love  the  brethren  ;  I  feel  its  prevalence  at  this 
time,  and  in  it  salute  thee,  thy  dear  husband  and  children,  with 
fervent  desires  that  he  who  hath  been  your  morning  light  and 
help  hitherto,  ma)'  be  your  staff  to  lean  upon,  beloved  ancients 
in  Israel,  in  this  your  decline  of  natural  strength,  so  as  to  fill  up 
the  station  allotted  you  in  the  church  of  Christ ;  few  are  the 
ancients  left,  to  whom  the  middle  aged  and  rising  youth  can  look 
with  advantage  !  The  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth  hath  gathered 
many  to  himself ;  the  world,  in  its  various  appearances,  hath 
slain  many  others  ;  and  some,  who  are  not  yet  dead,  have  their 
garments  so  covered  with  dust,  and  spotted  with  defiling  things, 
that  they  are  not  fit  to  be  looked  upon,  nor  their  footsteps  to  be 
inquired  after.  But  happy  is  the  slate  of  those  advanced  to  old 
age,  whose  conduct  proclaims  they  have  not  followed  cunningly 
devised  fables,  but  have  been  made  living  witnesses  of  the  power 
and  coming  of  Christ !  These  have  been  powerful  inducements 
to  me  to  bow  my  heart  in  holy  awe,  from  my  childhood  to  this 
day,  (I  mean  with  respect  to  outward  means,)  and  I  am  thankful 
to  the  great  preserver  of  men,  that  there  are  such  here  and  there 
to  be  found  ;  and,  though  painful  baptisms  for  Zion's  sake  may 
attend,  in  viewing  the  backslidings  of  many,  yet  ability  is  given, 
at  times,  to  appeal  with  reverend  confidence  to  the  searcher  of 
hearts.  "  Thou  knowest  how  I  have  walked  before  thee  !"  I 
trust  this  will  be  your  crown  of  rejoicing,  in  an  hour  approach- 
ing, which  I  could  wish  very  remote  from  you,  except  that  the 
laws  of  nature  proclaim  it  to  be  near. 

The  sarrie  love  and  hearty  well-wishing  attend  your  offspring! 
May  they  so  acquaint  themselves  with  the  God  of  their  parents, 
as  to  stand  in  their  lots,  and  be  found  worthy  to  have  their 
names  appear  in  the  register  of  the  Lamb's  army !  Beloved 
young  friends,  suffer  the  advice  of  one  that  loves  you,  (though 
outwardly  a  stranger,)  to  have  place  in  your  minds;  the  expe- 
rience of  many  years  has  taught  me  that  godliness  is  profitable 


184 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


for  all  things,  and  that  real  happiness  is  known  in  proportion 
to  the  progress  of  it  in  our  hearts.  If  you  look  around 
among  j'our  cotemporaries,  you  will  find  it  a  sealed  truth, 
and  unspeakably  comfortable  to  this  wise  number,  who  have 
sought  with  unwearied  diligence  the  kingdom  of  God,  first  in 
time,  as  it  is  first  in  value.  How  beautiful  upon  the  moun- 
tains have  been  the  feet  of  these  !  and  how  strong  the  voice 
with  which  their  conduct  has  proclaimed  good  tidings  !  Sal- 
vation hath  been  their  portion,  and  peace  their  safe  refuge. 
They  have  been  qualified  to  maintain  their  testimony,  and 
earnestly  to  contend  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 
Where  began  these  ?  In  the  immediate  operation  of  the 
power  of  Truth  in  their  hearts,  in  a  humble  waiting  and 
resignation  to  the  Divine  will,  not  making  haste  from  under 
the  refining  hand  ;  all  who  have  known  an  advancement  in 
true  godliness  have  begun  upon  this  foundation  :  upon  this 
low  ground,  but  sure  foundation,  your  worthy  parents  began, 
and  built  with  success,  and  now  know  how  precious  it  is  in 
advanced  life.  The  dew  of  the  everlasting  hills,  and  a  sufB.- 
cient  share  of  the  fatness  of  the  earth,  are  the  portion  of 
every  soul,  which,  above  all  other  considerations,  seeks  the 
Lord  in  truth  and  sincerity.  O.  sailh  my  soul,  may  there  be 
such  a  heart  in  you  as  to  fear  the  Lord  Almighty,  and  keep 
his  commandments  always,  that  it  may  be  well  with  you 
and  your  children.  Thus  my  spirit  salutes  you,  dear  youth, 
in  the  spreading  of  concern  for  your  good  ;  that  you  may, 
by  means  of  heavenly  help,  be  made  truly  happy  in  your- 
selves, a  comfort  to  vour  aged  parents,  and  useful  to  your 
brethren  in  the  Church  of  Christ. 

I  have  travelled  with  much  diligence,  according  to  the 
ability  given,  and  have  had  my  experience  enlarged  in  rejoic- 
ing and  suffering  ;  the  last  has  been  often  my  lot,  but  I 
dare  not  repine  ;  to  be  what  I  ought  is  my  only  aim,  and 
best  wisdom  knows  the  method  to  make  me  so  ;  in  his  will 
I  humbly  acquiesce. 

S.  F 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


185 


Ellen  Evans  was  the  wife  of  John  Evans  :  he  as  a  minister, 
and  she  in  the  office  of  elder,  were  both  valuable  members  of  the 
Monthly  Meeting  of  G  vvynedd,  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  born  in 
Denbighshire,  and  in  the  year  1698  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Pennsylvania.  In  the  twenty-third  year  of  his  age  he  appeared  in 
the  Ministry  of  the  Gospel ;  he  was  deeply  learned  in  Heavenly 
Truths,  and  plain  in  declaring  them.  He  was  a  zealous  promo- 
ter of  visiting  Friends  in  their  families,  and  often  engaged  there- 
in, and  his  labours  were  awakening  and  useful.  He  travelled 
through  most  of  the  American  provinces,  and  having  served 
God  in  his  generation,  he  departed  in  the  9th  month,  1756. 

Ellen  Evans  was  born  near  Dolgelly,  in  1685,  and  removed 
to  America  when  very  young.  She  had  a  good  understanding, 
which  being  enriched  and  sanctified  by  Divine  grace,  soon  dis- 
tinguished her  as  one  seeking  heavenly  treasure,  and  she  became 
an  honourable  member  of  Society. 

She  was  exemplar)'-  in  her  family,  and  remarkable  for  piety 
and  industry,  rising  early  in  the  morning,  and  encouraging  oth- 
ers to  do  so  ;  often  observing,  that  those  who  rose  late  lost  the 
youthful  beauty  of  the  day,  and  wasted  its  most  precious  part  ; 
that  the  sun  was  the  candle  of  the  world,  which  called  upon  us 
to  arise  and  diligently  apply  to  our  several  duties.  Except  on 
meeting  days,  it  was  her  practice  to  retire  about  noon,  with  the 
Bible  or  some  religious  book,  and  spend  a  portion  of  her  time 
alone,  often  to  her  great  refreshment.  She  frequently  assem- 
bled her  family  in  the  evenings  to  read  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
with  which,  as  well  as  with  the  writings  of  Friends,  she  was 
thoroughly  acquainted. 

She  died  on  the  29th  of  4th  month,  1765,  aged  80  years. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

New  York,  5th  Mo.,  9th,  1755. 
I  have  continued  cause  to  acknowledge  the  kindness 

of  Providence,  in  preserving  my  health  and  ability  to  labour  in 
25 


186 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[175  5 


his  service  ;  although  it  is  very  hard  and  close  work  which  falls 
lo  my  portion,  yet  I  endeavour  after  quiet  contentment  in  my 
lot,  and  all  my  desires  centre  in  this  point,  that  His  heavenly 
presence,  who  is  my  light  and  my  strength,  may  accompany, 
and  then  all  will  be  right  and  well ;  and  I  may  acknowledge, 
with  reverence,  His  hand  has  wonderfully  supplied  and  opened 
in  all  wisdom  and  counsel,  to  the  help  of  the  faithful,  and  the  rous- 
ing up  of  the  careless  and  forgetful,  and  staying  my  mind  upon 
Him  who  is  the  companion  and  help  of  his  own  afflicted  seed. 
Oh  may  we  both  so  dwell  with  and  walk  before  him  as  ever  to 
know  him  at  our  right  hand,  that  we  may  not  be  moved  in  any 
of  the  disquietudes  and  tossings  that  this  world  produces. 

I  closed  my  last  under  much  concern  on  sister  Ann's  account ; 
several  circumstances  had  created  in  my  mind  a  persuasion  that 
she  has  finished  her  course,  and  if  it  be  so,  I  make  no  doubt 
but  she  has  a  residence  beyond  the  reach  of  pain  and  sorrow  for 
ever.  The  ties  of  nature  are  strong  ;  the  removal  of  so  near  re- 
lations afflicting  ;  the  apprehension  of  it,  and  my  own  exercise 
for  the  Church,  have  been  very  heavy  upon  me  for  some  weeks 
past. 

We  had  a  large,  good  meeting  in  this  city  last  evening,  much 
to  my  ease,  and  I  am  preparing  to  go  to  Long  Island. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Flushing,  (Long  Island,)  5th  Mo.,  26th,  1755. 
Although  a  constant  series  of  employment  hath  pre- 
vented my  testifying  my  affectionate  remembrance  of  thee 
and  thy  dear  spouse  and  children,  yet  I  can  with  great  truth 
assure  thee,  you  have  been  very  frequently  the  companions 
of  my  thoughts  ;  and  though  unfitted  at  present,  by  deep 
poverty  and  leanness,  for  any  beneficial  correspondence,  I 
cannot  dismiss  my  dear  and  worthy  companion,  thy  brother 
John,  without  some  token  of  affectionate  regard,  which,  I 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILI.. 


187 


flatter  myself,  is  from  the  dictates  of  pure  friendship,  which  I 
often  feel  is  reciprocal. 

I  have  been  led,  since  we  parted,  into  frequent  and  deep  suf- 
fering, in  the  view  and  feeling  sense  of  the  suffering  state  of 
the  Church  all  along,  which  sits  in  the  dust,  and  has  on  her 
mourning  weeds,  although  there  are  a  few  who  have  kept 
their  garments  clean  ;  but  the  lamentable  defection  of  those 
who  would  be  thought  the  head,  but  are  the  tail — I  mean  the 
more  advanced  in  years,  profession,  and  station  amongst  the 
people — gives  a  painful  prospect.  And  as  it  is  hard  to  lift  up 
a  hand  against  gray  hairs,  my  progress  has  been  more  difficult 
and  afflicting  than  I  can  express.  However.  I  have  to  acknowl- 
edge with  reverence,  heavenly  assistance  has  been  at  times 
helpfully  near,  to  my  full  discharge  and  ease  in  my  painful 
labour,  though  I  believe  I  must  traverse  a  second  time  some 
steps  I  have  already  trod. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Newport,  Rhode  Island,  6th  Mo.,  5th,  1755. 

 I  have  been  sustained  to  travel  and  labour  with 

diligence,  and  to  my  secret  comfort  and  ease  in  most  places  ; 
but  the  Work  is  very  laborious,  having  not  only  the  burthen  of 
the  state  of  the  churches  at  times  upon  me,  with  respect  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  but  the  revival  of  discipline,  too  much 
neglected  by  many  of  those  who  seem  most  active  for  Truth's 
service,  and  opposed  by  a  ranting  spirit,  which  hates  dis- 
cipline, and  represents  it  as  a  lording  over  one  another's  faith. 
In  both  respects,  I  have  been  concerned  to  labour  closely, , 
and  to  some  service.  I  have  performed  a  general  visit  to  Long 
Island,  and  some  parts  of  the  continent  belonging  to  that  prov- 
ince, and  was  at  their  Yearly  Meeting,  held  at  Flushing,  which 
was  very  large  and  satisfactory,  through  faithful,  awakening 
labour,  to  the  careless  and  worldly-minded ;  I  then  visited  some 


188 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


part  of  Long  Island,  and  travelled  to  this  place,  180  miles, 
where  I  came  last  night.  The  extreme  heat  of  the  weather, 
with  my  large  crowded  meetings,  are  weakening  to  my  natural 
strength,  but  all-sufficiency  is  graciously  near,  for  help  in  all 
respects,  and  in  that  my  confidence  stands.  I  have  had  a  large 
open  meeting  here  this  day,  and  propose,  after  attending  some 
adjacent,  to  return  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  here,  I  suppose  the 
largest  in  one  meeting-house  in  the  world. 

S.  F. 


WILLIAM  LOGAN*  TO  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL. 

Stenton,  near  Philadelphia,  6th  Mo.,  10th,  1755. 

 My  worthy  friend,  thy  good  husband,  with 

whom  I  have  travelled  thirteen  weeks,  had  several  meetings 
among  the  Presbyterians  at  Boston,  Marblehead,  Ports- 
mouth, in  New  Hampshire,  and  at  Jamaica,  on  Long  Island, 
which  were  very  large,  and  to  his  and  the  people's  satisfac- 
tion, being  as  eminently  favoured,  if  not  more  so,  amongst  this 

*  William  Logan  was  a  man  of  some  note  in  Pennsylvania  ;  he  was 
for  several  years  a  member  of  Ihe  Assembly  of  the  province.  His 
father,  James  Logan,  went  from  England  with  William  Penn,  and  for 
many  years  took  a  large  share  in  public  affairs,  and  filled  several  impor- 
tant offices,  being  Secretary  of  the  province,  Commissioner  of  Property, 
Chief  Justice,  and  for  two  years  governed  the  province  as  President  of  the 
Council.  A  number  of  years  before  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1751, 
at  the  age  of  77,  he  retired  from  public  life,  and  spent  his  time  principally 
at  Stenton,  his  country  seat,  where  he  occupied  himself  in  literary  pur- 
suits, and  in  correspondence  with  many  of  the  principal  literati  of  Europe. 
He  was  well  versed  both  in  ancient  and  modern  learning,  a  master  of  the 
Greek,  Latin,  French,  and  Italian  languages,  and  acquainted  with  several 
of  the  Oiiental  tongues.  He  was  well  skilled  in  Mathematics  and  in  Nat- 
ural Philosophy.  He  wrote  several  treatises  in  Latin,  one  of  which  was 
translated  by  Doctor  Fothergill.  To  the  people  of  Pennsylvania  he  made 
a  munificent  bequest  of  a  most  valuable  library,  which  he  had  been  fifty  years 
in  collecting ;  it  has  since  been  called.  The  Loganian  Library. 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


1S9 


people  than  any  other  ;  and  I  am  fully  persuaded  his  labours  of 
love  will  never  be  forgotten  by  some  of  them,  especially  at 
Boston  and  Portsmouth  ;  and  should  he  ever  find  a  concern  to 
return  to  those  parts,  I  believe  it  will  be  on  account  of  those 
people,  and  not  those  of  our  Society  ;  but,  as  I  have  said,  he 
thinks  himself  clear  of  them,  and  is  perfectly  easy. 

He  set  out,  immediately  after  our  Yearly  Meeting  was  over, 
for  Nottingham,  in  company  with  John  Churchman,  to  attend 
a  large  meeting  held  there  once  a-year,  and  then  intends  for 
Cecil  and  some  other  meetings  in  and  near  Maryland,  propos- 
ing to  return  to  our  Quarterly  Meeting  about  six  weeks  hence. 

I  am  heartily  thankful  I  was  favoured  to  be  Kis  companion, 
and  hope  I  may  retain  a  due  sense  and  remembrance  of  the 
many  seasonable  and  weighty  advices  given  from  time  to  time, 
together  with  the  refreshing  seasons  at  some  of  the  meetings, 
and  should  be  pleased  I  could  say  they  were  more  generally 
satisfactory ;  but  Truth  is,  I  think,  but  at  a  low  ebb  in  those 
parts,  especially  amongst  the  elders  and  those  of  the  most  ad- 
vanced years,  great  deadness  and  barrenness  appearing  amongst 
them  in  most  places,  which  has  caused  some  hard,  affecting 
service  to  thy  good  husband.  The  youth  have  a  more  promis- 
ing aspect,  and  seem  to  be  sensible  of  the  declension  of  the 
Church,  and  zealous  for  restoring  her  primitive  beauty,  which 
is  cause  of  joy  to  the  humble  in  heart,  and  those  that  are  anx- 
ious on  that  account- 

WiLLiAM  Logan. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL. 

Newport,  Rhode  Island,  6th  Mo.,  13th,  1755. 

 I  have  continued  cause  of  thankfulness  to  the 

Almighty  hand,  who  hath  wonderfully  supported  me  every  way, 
and  hath  been  pleased  to  favour  the  opening  of  their  large  Yearly 
Meeting,  this  day,  in  a  most  glorious,  helpful  manner,  and 


190 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


brought  the  deepest  reverence  upon  my  soul,  and  tears  of  joy 
and  comfort  from  those  few  elders  amongst  ihem  who  rightly 
remember  our  father  and  his  God.  Oh  that  I  may  never  forget 
His  mercies,  which  are  sure,  even  to  his  children's  children  ! 

The  Yearly  Meeting  begins  at  Nantucket  this  day  two  weeks, 
and  I  believe  I  may  take  in  their  course  most  of  the  Quarterly 
Meetings  in  New  England,  which  I  am  desirous  of  doing,  as 
their  discipline  is  much  neglected,  and  the  revival  thereof  is  no 
small  part  of  my  concern  and  labour. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEISLEY  AND 
CATHERINE  PAYTON. 

Ponygansett,  6th  Mo.,  22d,  1755. 

In  the  renewings  of  that  hidden  sympathy  and  nearness, 
which  Truth  itself  gives  those  that  diligently  abide  in  it,  to  feel 
with  and  for  one  another,  I  affectionately  salute  you,  who  are 
at  this  time,  and  many  others,  as  epistles  written  in  my  heart, 
and  helps  in  my  way  forward  ;  with  earnest  supplication  to  the 
Lord,  our  alone  Helper,  that  he  who  hath  been  our  Alpha,  and 
mercifully  regarded  us,  even  beyond  many  of  our  colempora- 
ries,  for  our  health  and  salvation,  and  who  hath  given  the  earnest 
in  measure  of  the  promised  inheritance,  may  ever  be  the  single 
object  of  honour  and  pure  worship  in  our  eyes,  that  thereby 
strength  may  be  known  to  bear  up  and  sustain  our  souls  in 
travail  and  baptisms,  many  others  are  strangers  to  ;  for  few  are 
the  footsteps,  of  this  age  at  least,  that  can  be  discerned  in  the 
path,  a  little  remnant,  (of  which  you  are  and  I  long  to 
be,)  are  travelling  in,  which  is  cast  up  of  God,  and  leads 
to  that  peaceful  Omega,  where  the  weary  enjoy  peace 
without  interruption.  I  have  nothing  to  write  of  the  good- 
ness, sure  mercy,  and  salvation  of  God,  which  you  know 
not  already,  and  are  stepping  in  the  line  which  enlarges 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF   SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


experience  ;  but  I  wanted  to  give  you  an  assurance  of  my  most 
affectionate  feeling  with  you,  and  for  you  ;  and  it  hath  been  a 
comfortable  consideration  to  me,  in  many  secretly  pained  hours, 
that  I  have  one  mark  of  passing  from  death  to  life,  in  that  I 
truly  love  the  brotherhood. 

Perhaps  by  ihis  time  you  may  have  pretty  nearly  visited  all 
the  meetings  in  this  part  of  the  world,  and  may  be  judged  by 
many,  consequently  ready  to  leave  it,  and  return  home.  I  have 
just  a  freedom  to  say,  "  Stand  still,  look  about  you  closely,"  (I 
believe  you  went  not  into  the  business  unrequired,)  but  leave  not 
hastily  any  little  service  that  may  spread  with  a  degree  of  per- 
mission, liberty,  and  openness.  Although  absolute  necessity 
does  not  at  present  attend  it,  the  heavenly  Master  may  yet  prove 
the  quickness  of  your  attention  by  a  low  voice,  on  your  faith- 
fulness to  which,  your  peace  may  much  depend.  I  leave  the 
hint,  and  very  likely  it  may  be  needless. 

I  crave  for  you,  as  for  myself,  the  blessing  of  a  peaceful,  safe 
return  to  your  native  shore,  and  the  plenteous  reward  of  peace  ; 
if  it  be  not  largely  distributed,  but  kept  in  the  Master's  hand, 
it  is,  nevertheless,  sure,  and  will  be  handed  to  you  in  wise  and 
suitable  times  and  portions. 

I  should  be  glad  of  a  farewell  epistle,  if  freedom  and  conven- 
ience admit;  my  heart  will  nearly  sympathize  with  you,  when 
on  the  mighty  waves  ;  and  may  your  remembrance  be  of  me, 
and  prayers  for  me,  that  my  goings  may  be  established  in  the 
precarious  passage  through  the  remainder  of  my  labours  in  this 
part  of  the  world. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Ponygansett,  6th  Mo.,  23d,  1755. 
I  have  continued  cause  of  humble  thankfulness  to  the 
ever  blessed  Helper,  for  his  support  vouchsafed  from  day  to 
day,  proportioning  strength  to  the  time  and  trial  inwardly  and 
outwardly.   Yet  many  are  the  painful  seasons  I  have  passed,  on 


192 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


account  of  the  general  state  of  the  Church,  which  have  issued 
in  more  proper  quahfication  to  labour  for  the  help  and  regula- 
tion of  things  amongst  us. 

Long  Island  was  a  laborious  place,  for  little  present  earnings. 
We  went  by  water  from  Setacket  to  Seabrook,  twentv-two 
leagues  in  one  day  ;  and  then  to  Newport.  The  Yearly  Meet- 
ing was  large  and  well,  being  a  fresh  visitation  to  many  there,  of 
all  ranks,  especially  the  youth.  I  found  some  engagement  to 
attend  my  mind  respecting  the  discipline  ;  and  got  some  queries 
prepared  and  transmitted  to  the  Quarterly,  Monthly,  and  Pre- 
parative Meetings,  to  be  answered  in  the  subordinate  meetings, 
and  to  the  Yearly  Meeting.  Another  set  of  queries  were  sent 
to  be  read,  considered,  and  answered,  in  all  the  Meetings  for 
Ministers  and  Elders  ;  and  answered  to  their  Yearly  Meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders.  I  was  concerned  to  recommend  the  like 
to  the  women  Friends,  who  also  accepted  my  labour  therein, 
and  sent  down  a  few  queries  relative  more  immediately  to  their 
own  conduct,  to  the  several  women's  meetings.  I  know  not 
what  advantage  may  redound  to  the  Church,  but  it  brought  me 
great  peace,  in  the  sense  of  a  discharge  of  my  duty,  in  this 
labour  for  the  revival  of  that  discipline  which  Divine  wisdom 
placed  as  a  hedge  about  his  vineyard,  when  he  planted  it  in  the 
morning  of  our  day. 

Great  is  the  work  the  Lord  our  God  has  begun,  and  is  car- 
rying on,  in  the  earth  for  the  promotion  of  his  own  glory  ;  and, 
indeed,  few  are  the  faithful  labourers  in  his  harvest;  though 
there  are  knees  bowed  before  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  who  have 
not  bowed  to  Baal,  who  will  in  due  time  be  brought  forth  into 
the  field,  and  strengthened  to  labour  successfully  in  the  Church 
of  Christ.  I  think  I  see  such  a  remnant  lying  almost  out  of 
sight  in  some  parts  of  America,  by  and  in  whom  God  will  arise 
and  get  himself  a  name.  Unwearied  are  Satan's  endeavours  to 
hurt  the  service  of  such,  and  render  the  beginnings  of  the  work 
upon  them  useless  to  themselves  and  others. 

I  have  often,  dear  Israel,  remembered  ihee  in  a  distin- 


^TAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL.  193 

tinguished  manner  ;  being  sensible  the  Lord  of  all  power  and 
wisdom  would  clothe  with  eminent  qualifications  for  his  service, 
in  this  thv  day,  in  which  the  church  has  on  her  sable  weeds,  and 
her  priests  are  in  bitterness.  He  who  is  the  giver  of  every  excel- 
lent gift  hath  endowed  thee  beyond  many  of  thy  cotemporaries, 
and  I  know  he  would  bless  thee  in  them  to  his  own  service  and 
thy  peace.  The  meekness  of  the  lamb,  the  humility  and  abased- 
ness  of  a  disciple,  add  strength,  beauty,  and  true  weight  to  all 
labour  in  the  Church  of  Christ.  Oh  that  thy  spirit  might  be 
more  and  more  seasoned  and  bowed  with  and  by  that  power 
which  alone  sanctifies  our  all  to  God,  and  doeth  his  work  and 
service.  I  have  seen  thee,  dear,  friend,  in  the  hidden  conflict, 
and  the  struggle  between  the  two  opposite  powers,  and  have 
sympathized  with  and  for  thee,  when  thou  hast  been  bruised 
and  hurt  by  the  prevalence  of  that  which  stands  as  an  armed 
man  in  thy  way  to  rest.  I  am  sensible  of  thy  secret  bemoaning 
at  times,  when  loss  hath  been  sustained,  and  the  renewal  of 
holy  reaches  for  thy  help  and  recovery ;  I  earnestly  wish  for 
thee  as  well  as  for  myself,  the  thorough  subjection  of  all  within 
us  to  that  abasing,  humbling  Hand,  who  prepares  instruments 
for  his  service  from  the  dust  of  Zion,  and  ordains  praise  out  of 
the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings.  In  the  spreading  of  tender 
love,  I  could  lay  my  hands  under  thy  feet,  if  necessary,  that 
thou  might  receive  strength  to  reign  in  the  Lamb's  dominion 
over  all  which  diminishes  that  excellent  service  thou  might  grow 
up  in,  for  the  revival  and  strengthening  of  the  Lord's  cause  in 
thy  generation. 

 Accept,  dear  friend,  this  salutation,  the  fruits  of  love 

unfeigned,  in  good  part. 

From  thy  asEuredFriend, 

S.  F, 


86 


194 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


SAMUEL  rOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Nantucket,  6th  Mo.,  27lh,  1755. 

It  is  Truth  which  strengthens  the  nearest  union,  and 
renders  it  truly  near  and  comfortable  one  to  another  ;  and  in  the 
living,  holy  sense  thereof,  I  most  tenderly  and  affectionately 
salute  thee.  I  am  still  helped  to  labour  with  such  a  degree  of 
strength  as  to  feel  the  reward  of  true  peace,  that  my  heart  is 
bowed  in  holy  thanksgiving  to  the  all-sufficient  Help  for  the  sup- 
port of  his  ancient  arm,  and  humblingly  encouraged  to  trust  in 
him  when  more  pinching  limes  are  permitted  to  attend.  I  have 
made  some  advances  in  my  experience  to  know  what  it  is  to 
want,  and  what  it  is  to  abound,  for  I  never  knew  more  of  bap- 
tisms for  the  dead,  nor  the  glorious  arising  of  the  mighty  power 
of  God,  in  all  wisdom,  strength,  and  counsel,  than  this  journey 
has  given  me  to  feel :  the  gain  of  all  be  consecrated  to  him, 
who  is  ever  worthy. 

I  found  in  Newport,  on  Rhode  Island,  a  valuable  number  of 
relations,  the  children  of  my  father's  sister,  some  of  whom  are 
deeply  solid  Friends,  to  whom  I  was  united  in  the  hidden  cove- 
nant of  spiritual  kindred,  and  strongly  hope  for  their  preserva- 
tion in  the  way  of  truth  and  righteousness.  My  uncle  is  still 
living,  an  innocent,  good  old  man-* 

We  were  eminently  favoured  with  the  Divine  presence,  in  the 
whole  course  of  that  great  Yearly  Meeting  at  Newport ;  and  a 
large  share  of  labour  fell  to  my  lot,  both  in  ministry,  and  endea- 
vouring to  restore  discipline,  which,  with  respect  to  its  usefulness, 
was  nearly  lost  amongst  them.  The  Lord  enabled  me  to  labour 
with  success,  and  queries  were  prepared  and  sent  down  into  the 
Quarterly  Meetings  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  with  directions  to 
establish  Mouthy  Meetings  of  the  same  nature  ;  and  other  queries 
to  the  Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings  ;  also  queries  for  the 

*  John  Proud. 


^TAT.  39.] 


OP  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


195 


women's  use,  as  in  England,  all  which  fell  to  my  lot  to  draw 
up  ;  also  an  epistle  to  the  several  Meetings  of  Ministers  and 
Elders  in  the  province  ;  that  it  was  a  time  of  close  labour  to 
me,  and  took  up  some  hours  of  the  lime  I  ought  to  have  slept. 
But  all  is  well ;  the  great  Name  spreading  itself  afresh  to  an 
unfaithful  people,  with  merciful  extending  of  holy  help  ;  he  will 
be  clear,  and  enable  his  servants  to  be  clear,  and  to  stand  in 
their  lot  at  the  end  of  days,  as  they  abide  faithful. 

On  'the  18lh  instant  I  left  Newport,  and  had  meetings  at 
Coaxet,  Cushanet,  Rochester,  Newtown,  and  two  very  large 
meetings  at  Ponygansett ;  two  days  we  were  upon  the  waters* 
coming  hither,  where  we  arrived  well.  I  was  more  sick  in 
coming  these  twenty-five  leagues,  than  1,100  from  Land's  End 
of  England  to  the  Capes  of  Delaware.  The  Yearly  Meeting, 
begun  here  yesterday,  was  large,  but  a  hard,  shut  up  meeting 
as  most  I  have  been  at  in  America. 

I  expect  to  be  upon  the  main  again  next  week ;  and  I 
believe  it  must  be  my  lot  to  visit  all  the  Quarterly  Meetings  in 
New  England,  in  order  further  to  direct  the  use  of  the  queries 
sent  down.  This  will  cause  a  considerable  increase  of  bodily 
labour;  but  to  be  found  faithful,  just,  and  true,  in  the  measure 
of  the  gospel  labour  committed  to  me,  is  the  aim  and  desire  of 
my  mind. 

Dear  John  Pemberton  accompanied  me  from  Philadelphia  to 
Flushing,  on  Long  Island,  greatly  to  my  satisfaction :  the  more 
I  know  of  that  valuable  youth,  the  more  I  love  him.  At 
Flushing,  William  Logan,  a  certain  great  man  in  the  world,  but 
his  greatness  is  more  eminent  in  his  religious  capacity,  joined 
me,  and  is  now  my  agreeable  companion  through  New  England  ; 
he  is  a  choice  friend,  and  had  John  Churchman's  recommenda- 
tion with  him  to  entitle  him  to  be  my  companion  ;  and  although 
no  public  minister  in  word  and  doctrine,  is  an  exemplary 
preacher  of  righteousness  in  life  and  conversation,  and  of  these 
preachers  the  world  has  great  need. 

Another  meeting  for  worship  hath  been  this  day  held,  in 


196 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


which  truth  arose  in  its  own  dominion,  and  crowned  our 
assembling  with  living  virtue,  to  the  help  of  the  true-hearted, 
and  placing  the  testimony  of  truth  over  all  transgressors  in  an 
eminent  manner  :  the  gain  of  all  is  justly  due  to  Him  from  whom 
all  strength  and  ability  proceed. 

I  would  gladly  hope  to  be  at  Philadelphia  in  the  9th  Month 
next,  at  their  Yearly  Meeting,  which  I  want  to  see  ;  but  this 
poor  New  England  wants  help,  and  the  Heavenly  Master  hath 
given  me  great  place  amongst  them,  that  I  know  not  whether 
I  shall  be  thoroughly  easy,  but  leave  it  to  the  disposal  of  all- 
wise  Providence,  whose  service  1  have  more  in  view  than  any 
other  consideration. 

I  affectionately  sympathize  with  poor  E.  T.,  in  the  loss  of 
her  daughter,  yet  believe  she  is  removed  in  mercy,  whilst 
measurably  innocent.  I  have  had,  since  I  left  home,  that  young 
woman  often  in  my  thoughts,  and  was  not  sorry  when  I  heard 
of  her  removal,  though  it  might  be  a  stroke  severe  enough  upon 
a  natural  parent,  and  more  than  they  know  well  how  to  bear  ; 
to  see  their  beloved  offspring  torn  away  must  make  their  hearts 
bleed  for  them,  and  for  their  loss  ;  yet  Infinite  Wisdom  hath 
sometimes  prevented  a  greater  affliction,  by  administering  one 
that  is  easier.  I  therefore  hope,  dear  Esther,  whom  I  nearly 
remember,  will  patiently  acquiesce  in  the  present  dispensation, 
under  this  certain  sense,  that  high,  heavenly,  and  wise  is  He 
who  hath  been  pleased  to  strip  her  to  the  one  band,  who  hath 
heretofore  rejoiced  in  many.  My  dear  love  is  to  her,  and  O 
that  her  son  Abraham  may  consider  the  obligation  he  is  under 
to  mitigate  her  pain,  by  every  instance  of  dutiful  regard,  that 
she  may  find  some  relief  from  painful  distress  in  him.  But  if 
even  this  fail,  Truth  itself  remains,  the  everlasting  stay  and 
unchangeable  spring  of  comfort  in  all  affliction. 

S.  F. 


jETAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


197 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER, 

Nantucket,  6th  Mo,  28th,  1755. 
Here  is  a  very  large  meeting  of  professors  upon  this 
island,  which  is,  with  respect  to  its  soil,  a  sunk  bank  in  the 
sea,  about  fifteen  miles  long  and  three  broad.  The  Yearly 
Meeting,  finished  here  this  day,  was  very  large,  the  place  con- 
sidered, being  more  than  1,500,  principally  professors  of  truth, 
at  meeting,  and  about  400  out  at  sea,  fishing  for  whales.  A 
convincement  there  was  formerly  amongst  them,  and  a  body 
of  good  Friends  remain  ;  but  as  the  richest  part  of  the  inhabit- 
ants embraced  the  principles  of  Truth  from  conviction,  the 
others  thought  the  expense  of  maintaining  a  priest  would  be 
too  heavy  for  them,  and  have  turned  Quakers  to  save  money, 
though  I  hope,  even  amongst  them,  the  power  of  the  begetting 
word  is  in  degree  at  work,  to  give  a  surer  title  to  the  family  of 
Christ. 

There  is  another  island,  about  ten  leagues  off,  where  no 
European  Friends  have  hitherto  been,  that  I  have  heard  of;  it 
is  called  Martha's  Vineyard  ;  I  cannot  with  ease  of  mind  pass 
it  by,  and  intend  to  sail  for  it  soon  after  midnight,  intending  to 
have  a  meeting  there  to-morrow  afternoon,  and  thence  to  the 
main  land  of  New  England,  and  would  gladly  hope  to  be  again 
at  Philadelphia  in  the  9lh  Months  I  have  looked  about  me,  in 
every  place  I  have  left,  whether  I  had  any  more  service 
required  ;  and  though  I  have  used  great  diligence,  I  have  not 
made  haste,  but  believe  I  must  have  another  fatiguing  journey 
into  Virginia.  My  poor  old  horse,  I  am  afraid,  is  dead  ;  I  was 
obliged  to  leave  him  ;  nature  could  not  do  more  ;  he  travelled 
150  miles  with  me  without  even  having  so  much  as  a  quartern 
of  English  Oats  ;  I  was  obliged  to  beg  a  little  Indian  bread  for 
my  own  support,  for  none  could  I  buy,  and  I  divided  it  honestly 
between  him  and  myself.  My  companion,  Israel  Pemberton's 
horse,  I  hear,  died  soon  after  we  left  them,  and  the  departure 
of  my  poor  old    Buck"  was  daily  expected. 

S.  F. 


I 


198  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1755. 

Whilst  thus  closely  engaged,  and  deeply  exercised  for  the 
cause  of  truth  in  America,  he  was  not  unmindful  of  his  Friends 
at  home,  and  from  Nantucket  he  addressed  to  Friends  of  Pcnk' 
eth  meeting  the  following  epistle,  which  was  publicly  read  there 
at  the  close  of  the  meeting  for  worship. 

EPISTLE  TO  FRIENDS  OF  PENKETH  MEETING. 

Nantucket,  6ih  Mo.,  28lh,  1755. 

Dearly  beloved  Friends, 

In  the  sensible  renewings  of  that  melting,  humbling 
love,  which  hath  often  bowed  m.y  spirit  and  yours  in  reverend, 
holy  worship,  when  present  with  you,  do  I  affectionately  salute 
the  truly  living  amongst  you,  as  present  in  spirit,  though,  for 
the  cause  of  truth,  far  separated  in  body  ;  yet,  by  no  means  less 
inwardly  anxious  for  your  establishment  in  the  unchangeable 
truth,  than  when  present  amongst  you,  and  engaged  in  labour 
for  your  help  and  growth  into  your  several  measures  of  the  full- 
ness of  Christ.  In  which  true  love,  my  spirit  hath  often  secretly 
reached  towards  you  ;  and  of  late,  with  that  unreserved  open- 
ness, as  to  allow  me  at  least  a  liberty  to  salute  you  with  a  token 
of  love  unfeigned. 

First  to  you,  my  beloved  friends,  partakers  of  the  heavenly 
calling,  who  have  surely  known  him  in  whom  }'ou  have  believed, 
and  been  made  witnesses  of  his  powerful  resurrection  unto  life  ; 
my  soul  is  at  this  instant  bowed,  with  and  for  you,  that  nothing 
may  be  admitted  to  weaken  your  hold,  or  diminish  your  follow- 
insf  on  to  know  him,  and  his  work,  who  hath  made  his  voice 
known  and  his  holy  arm  bare  for  your  help.  I  have  seen  the 
snares  laid  in  your  way  ;  the  love  of  the  world,  and  the  indolent 
rest  in  the  remembrance  of  former  favour ;  together  with  the 
strong  touches  of  heavenly  help,  which  have  been  considered  as 
marks  of  approbation  of  your  present  state,  rather  than  what 
the  Lord  Almighty  intended  them  for,  even  strong  inducements 
to  follow  on  to  know  him.     This  fatal  mistake  hath  some- 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


199 


times  led  the  truly  visited  into  a  partial  work,  and  centred 
them  in  a  false  rest ;  in  a  low,  and  dwarfish,  weak  state, 
subject  to  frequent  failures  and  bruises,  which  have  eclipsed  and 
dimmed  the  beauty  which  the  Lord  of  the  heritage  would  have 
endued  you  with.  Therefore,  beloved  friends,  wait  for  and 
submit  to  the  shaking,  loosening  power,  which  would  lead  from 
the  unnecessary  embarrassments  of  this  world  ;  for  such  are 
those  which  lead  to  forget  God.  Follow  faithfully  to  Bethel, 
to  Jericho,  through  Jordan,  and  to  the  last  vision  of  the  heavenly 
messenger  ;  so  shall  a  double  portion  of  the  Spirit  rest  upon  you, 
and  the  name  and  cause  of  the  Highest  be  magnified,  your  own 
treasures  enlarged,  and  those  who  are  behind  encouraged,  by 
your  example,  to  diligence  and  steady  care  to  possess  the  like 
durable  inheritance.  On  the  contrary,  where  negligence  and 
weakness,  through  a  worldly  spirit,  prevail  amongst  the  seem- 
ing foremost  ranks,  it  encourages  in  imdue  liberties,  relaxes 
necessary  care  after  their  own  help,  and  is  a  stumblingblock  in 
the  way  of  the  weak,  who  gladly  admit  of  these  discouraging 
prospects,  as  they  flatter  their  own  negligence,  and  speak  a  lan- 
guage calculated  to  indulge  them  in  iheir  remissness  suitably  to 
labour  for  hidden  treasure  in  their  own  possession.  Let,  there- 
fore, the  word  of  exhortation  be  received  by  you,  to  stir  up  to 
an  increase  in  faithful  obedience  ;  ever  bearing  in  your  remem- 
brance the  loving  kindness  of  the  Lord  of  sure  mercies,  and  its 
end,  even  j^our  own  establishment,  and  the  help  of  others  by 
your  living  example  ;  that  you,  being  faithful  follow^ers  of  him 
who  hath  entered  into  rest,  may  say  to  others,  "  Follow  me,  as 
I  follow  Christ." 

And  I  am  fully  assured  that  the  reverend,  honest  travellers 
amongst  you,  to  whom  my  spirit  is  secretly  united,  will  not  be 
overlooked.  Although  they  may  have  pensively  to  muse  on 
the  roll  written  within  and  without,  lamentation,  mourning, 
and  wo,  He  who  has  bowed  the  heavens,  and  come  down 
for  the  help  of  his  own  seed,  will  not  turn  away  his  holy 
ear  from  their  requests,  but  speedily  arise  for  their  sure  de- 
liverance. 


200 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


You  also,  my  friends,  who  are  not  so  sensibly  united  by  a 
birth  from  the  immortal  seed  to  the  true  family  as  1  have  often 
begged  for  you,  have  a  place  in  my  remembrance,  and  an  aflfec- 
tionate  concern  that  you  might  be  prevailed  with  to  work  while 
it  is  yet  day  with  you,  and  be  excited  to  seek  after  the  one 
thing  ;  a  solemn  approaching  hour  will  convince  you  that  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  for  peace  and  rest  for  ever.  How  long 
hath  the  gracious  Hand  been  extended  for  your  help  ?  even  all 
the  day  long,  until  the  evening  has  drawn  near,  and  his  locks 
have  been  wet  with  its  dews  ;  unwilling  to  leave,  and  graciously 
mindful  of  you.  Oh  !  that  none  such  may  survive  the  extend- 
ing of  the  blessed  arm  of  all-substantial  strength,  and  remain  in 
advanced  life  as  trees  twice  dead,  and  plucked  up  by  the  roots, 
reserved  for  Tophet,  prepared  of  old  for  those  who  forget 
God. 

And  0,  that  the  youth  amongst  you,  to  whom  even  Dives's 
desire  for  his  brethren,  that  one  might  be  raised  and  sent  from 
the  dead  to  warn  them,  hath  been  granted,  of  which  I  am  a 
living  monument,  might  be  roused  in  every  heart  to  seek  care- 
fully after  their  own  interest,  and  to  study  betimes  those  things 
which  can  alone  make  their  lives  truly  comfortable,  and  enable 
them  to  fill  up  their  essential  duties  here,  and  rest  in  peace  at 
the  solemn  approaching  conclusion.  Whatever  place  it  may 
now  have  with  you,  satisfied  I  am  you  have  been  eminently 
favoured  ;  and  line  upon  line,  precept  upon  precept,  have  been 
given  in  the  spreading  of  gathering  love  and  mercy,  which  my 
soul  craves  your  reverent  remembrance  of  to  your  profit ;  for 
they  will  not  fall  to  the  ground,  but  remain,  as  profitable  direc- 
tion to  the  right-minded,  or  a  dreadful  hand-writing  upon  the 
wall  against  the  rebellious  and  negligent.  For  thus,  even  now, 
saith  the  Lord  Almighty,  respecting  the  issue  of  his  word 
to  his  visited  people  as  of  old — "  As  the  rain  cometh  down, 
*'  and  the  snow  from  heaven,  and  returneth  not  thither,  but 
"  watereth  the  earth,  and  maketh  it  bring  forth  and  bud, 
"  that  it  may  give  seed  to  the  sower  and  bread  to  the  eater ; 
*'  so  shall  my  word  be  that  goeth  forth  out  of  my  mouth  :  it 


jETAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


201 


"shall  not  return  unto  me  void,  but  it  shall  accomplish  that 
"  which  I  please,  and  it  shall  prosper  in  the  thing  whereto  I 
«'  sent  it." 

O,  therefore,  dear  young  friends,  be  warned  in  time  to  bow 
in  heart  to  this  word,  that  you  may  know  it  to  be  a  word  of  sure 
comfort  in  a  day  when  nothing  else  can  speak  peace  to  the 
soul  ;  and  that,  through  its  sanctifying  virtue,  you  may  be  made 
vessels  of  honour  in  the  house  of  God,  that  the  labour  frequently 
and  affectionately  bestowed  upon  you  may  not  be  in  vain  to  any 
among  you.  lam  sensible  there  are  good  desires  at  times  pre- 
sent in  some  of  your  minds  ;  but,  alas  !  often  weakened  by  the 
hurtful  things  which  are  spread  as  snares  in  the  path  of  youth, 
and  which  often  endanger  the  unwary,  careless  mind,  and  lead 
it  into  certain  destruction :  but  there  is  an  all-sufficient  Hand, 
able  and  willing  to  direct  and  support  in  all  perils,  and  to  con- 
duct steadily  and  safely  to  that  desirable  possession,  which  is 
reserved  for  those,  of  all  ranks  and  of  every  age,  who  seek  dili- 
gently, by  faith  and  patience,  to  inherit  glory. 

I  have,  on  my  own  account,  cause  of  reverent  worship,  for 
the  continuance  of  daily  support,  proportioned  not  to  my  deserv- 
ing, but  to  the  abundant  condescension  of  a  gracious  God  ;  who 
hath  every  way  helped  me,  inwardly  and  outwardly,  in  this  labo- 
rious service,  and  hath  supplied  with  wisdom  and  strength  to 
labour  to  some  service,  and  my  own  great  peace,  in  humble, 
reverent  trust  in  his  unchangeable  love  and  help,  which  hath  not 
yet  failed.  So  that  I  have  often,  with  a  soul  inwardly  melted 
before  the  Throne  of  Grace,  admired  His  goodness,  and  had  to 
acknowledge  His  unutterable  kindness  and  mercy,  in  engaging 
my  heart  to  devote  the  bloom  and  strength  of  my  life  to  his 
service,  who  is  ever  worthy  of  love,  obedience,  and  the  tribute 
of  a  devoted  heart.    Amen,  amen. 

Thus,  beloved  friends,  the  yearning  of  an  affectionate  heart 

reaches  to  you,  and  craves  for  you  sure  help  in  the  way  of 

righteousness  and  peace  ;  that  if  I  be  restored  again  to  you, 

there  may  be  a  sensible  increase  and  growth  ;  that  you  may  be 
27 


202  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1755. 

a  joyful  prospect  to  me  ;  and  that  my  return,  if  permitted,  and 
of  which  I  have  a  secret  hope,  may  be  to  you  in  the  fulness  of 
the  Gospel  of  peace,  and  not  with  sorrow  and  distress  on  your 
account. 

The  everlasting,  holy,  and  unchangeable  God  of  all  comfort 
be  near  you,  to  strengthen  that  which  remains  alive,  and  should 
live,  to  support  you  in  every  difficulty,  and  preserve  you  as  a 
well  fenced  and  frequently  watered  garden,  is  the  prayer  of 
your  true  friend  and  well-wisher, 

Samuel  Fotiiergill. 

During  the  visit  of  Samuel  Fothergill  to  the  island  of  Nan- 
tucket, his  mind  was  much  exercised  on  account  of  a  difference 
which  then,  and  had  for  a  long  time  previously,  existed  amongst 
some  Friends  there  ;  this  he  took  much  pains  to  remove,  and 
after  he  left  them  he  felt  engaged  to  address  to  the  Monthly 
Meeting  the  following  letter  : — 

TO  FRIENDS  OF  THE  MONTHLY  MEETING  OF  SHERBORNE, 
NANTUCKET. 

Sandwich,  7th  Mo.,  4th,  1755. 

Dear  Friends, 

I  have  found  so  much  secret  travail  and  concern  of  soul, 
on  the  account  of  your  present  circumstances,  as  not  to  allow 
me,  with  true  ease  of  mind,  to  dismiss  the  Friends  who  have 
kindly  accompanied  us,  without  a  few  lines  of  brotherly  advice 
and  counsel. 

First,  and  principally,  to  those  more  immediately  active 
in  the  government  of  the  Church,  and  the  management  of 
Truth's  affairs  ;  let  a  suitable  search  be  made,  in  and  by  what 
spirit  you  are  conducted  in  all  your  services,  in  the  meek- 
ness of  wisdom,  that  loves  and  seeks  the  establishment  one 
of  another  in  the  unchangeable  truth,  the  ground  and  rule 
of  all  your  motions  and  advances,  that  you  may  act  for 
God  in  your  day,  and  be  happy  with  him  at  last.    Is  this, 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


203 


my  friends,  your  chief  aim  in  his  sight,  who  knows  all  the  se- 
crets of  men's  hearts,  and  every  view  of  the  mind  ;  or  hath  not 
rather  the  interposition  of  other  things  weakened  some  of  your 
hands,  and  opened  another  eye  than  that  single  one  to  God's  glo- 
ry, which  his  true-hearted  servants,  both  in  ministry  and  dis- 
cipline, are  truly  concerned  to  keep  open ;  and  to  the  head, 
Christ  Jesus — which  hath  apparently  diminished  the  beauty 
which,  1  believe,  once  rested  in  a  more  eminent  degree  upon 
that  island  than  at  present  ?  O,  Friends  !  how  hath  it  happen- 
ed ?  At  whose  door  may  it  be  laid  ?  I  fear  the  head  hath  been 
sick,  and  thence  weakness  and  infirmity  spread  itself  into  the 
body,  and  rendered  it  unfit  for  his  descent  into  our  assemblies, 
who,  of  old,  required  the  removal  of  the  lepers  out  of  his  camp, 
as  a  previous  step  to  his  abiding  amongst  the  congregation  ; 
and  if  the  leprosy  of  the  lowest  class  of  the  people  could  thus 
prevent  heavenly  regard,  what  shall  Ave  not  have  occasion  to 
fear,  if  amongst  the  chiefs  and  principal  heads  of  the  tribes  any 
lepers  be  found,  for  such  are  all  those  whose  minds  the  god  of 
this  world  hath  defiled,  and  led  them  to  seek  their  own  tilings, 
more  than  the  things  of  Christ,  and  sometimes  even  at  the  price 
of  the  Church's  peace. 

I  am  much  a  stranger,  and  desire  to  be  so,  who  hath  been 
the  occasion  of  the  present  breach  of  union  amongst  you  ;  but 
I  am  clearly  and  fully  convinced,  that  had  those  watchmen  who 
take  that  name  upon  them  been  awake,  and  quick  of  understand- 
ing in  the  fear  of  God,  they  might  have  been  instrumental  in 
preventing  its  spreading  out  into  those  branches  that  are  appa- 
rent ;  and  although  I  shall  not  make  myself  a  judge  and  divider 
amongst  you,  with  respect  to  the  validity  of  the  claim  of  any, 
yet  this  I  am  very  clear  in,  that  those  who  made  themselves 
judges  in  their  own  cause,  without  pursuing  the  constant  advice 
of  Friends,  to  refer  their  claims  to  proper  judges,  mutually  chos- 
en by  both  parlies — and  in  consequence  thereof,  turned  out  their 
cattle — made  a  breach  of  the  rules  prescribed  by  Divine  wisdom 
for  our  Zion,  and  the  beast  of  the  field  broke  through  into  the 


204 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


Lord's  vineyard:  therefore,  the  likely  way  to  issue  this  aflfair 
seems  to  me  to  restore  things  to  the  situation  they  were  in  for- 
merly, and  if  any  Friends  think  their  rights  abridged,  to  request 
jointly  the  assistance  of  your  Quarterly  Meeting  ;  in  the  mean 
time,  keep  out  of  reflections  and  evil  surmises  one  against  ano- 
ther, and  abide  in  the  peaceable  spirit  of  the  Lamb,  which 
alone  will  be  finally  victorious. 

Let  the  establishment  of  the  family  be  dear  to  you  all ;  and 
0,  that  the  keepers  of  the  flock,  both  ministers  and  elders,  may 
so  watch  over  them  as  to  have  to  say,  I  have  lost  none  of  those 
committed  to  my  trust,  but  have  watched  over  them  for  good, 
and  preferred  Jerusalem's  welfare  lo  my  chiefest  joy.  My  heart 
is  pained  for  you,  and  truth  amongst  you  ;  and  I  am  strongly 
bowed  down  before  the  Almighty,  in  intercession,  for  a  time  of 
reviving  from  his  own  presence  amongst  the  more  aged  with 
you,  and  the  more  active  leaders,  that  the  cause,  eminently  own- 
ed of  God  amongst  you,  may  not  perish,  and  you  also  in  your 
negligence. 

And  oh,  thou  little  distressed  remnant»  who  have  communica- 
tion together,  and  are  sad— the  heritage  that  mourns  to  the 
Lord  in  the  sense  of  the  numbers  that  are  slain  on  the  high 
places— let  thine  eye  be  to  that  Alpha  who  was  the  beginner  of 
all  good,  and  he  will  be  thy  Omega,  the  author  and  finisher  of 
thy  faith  ;  the  companion  and  stay  of  his  own  seed  is  he,  and 
will  arise  for  their  help. 

And  now,  dear  Friends,  in  the  sense  of  best  regard,  my  heart 
pleads  with  you  ;  for  Zion's  sake,  follow  after  peace  with  God, 
and  one  with  another,  that  the  God  of  love  and  peace  may  ever 
be  with  you  ;  in  this  peace  alone  stands  that  farewell  my  soul 
craves  for  you  all. 

I  am,  your  Friend,  concerned  for  your  true  help, 

Samuel  Fothergill. 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


205 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

Nantucket,  7lh  Mo,,  1755. 

I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  thy  acceptable 
letter,  and  although  I  have  little  to  say  which  can  recommend 
iny  writing,  yet  I  do  love  to  be  in  the  way  of  getting  good,  by 
maintaining  a  correspondence  with  such  as  are  capable  of  com- 
municating it.  I  have,  through  continued  mercy,  cause  of 
thankful  acknowledgment  to  the  gracious  Hand,  for  his  sup- 
port every  way  hitherto  ;  although  many  painful  hours  are  to  be 
met  with,  yet  I  am  helped  to  be  generally  quiet,  and  this  is  to 
me  a  great  and  good  attainment.  Sometimes  I  think  I  can  see 
that  my  commission  has  passed  the  proper  office,  and  got  seals 
to  it ;  at  other  times  I  can  scarcely  see  either  seal  or  commis- 
sion, which,  though  a  painful  dispensation,  is  profitable  to 
quicken  to  diligence,  to  be  very  attentive  to  my  Master's  direc- 
tions, and  quick  of  understanding  in  his  will ;  and  that,  above 
all  things,  I  may  know  an  abode  in  his  service,  though  but  in 
the  most  seemingly  trivial  employment,  yet  to  any  honest  em- 
ploy for  bread,  am  I  heartily  willing  to  have  my  hand  turned. 

I  have  been  stirring  about  pretty  closely  since  we  parted ; 
we  had  a  large  meeting  at  Flushing,  but  low  and  distressing, 
as  indeed  was  my  passage  in  general  through  Long  Island.  The 
meeting  at  Newport  was  very  large  and  satisfactory  ;  brought 
in  the  reward  of  peace,  through  close,  painful  labour.  I  found 
my  mind  greatly  engaged  for  the  revival  of  discipline  amongst 
them,  in  which  I  laboured  with  some  seeming  success. 

The  meeting  here  hath  been  large,  and,  as  times  go,  pretty 
well  upon  the  whole,  the  state  of  the  people  considered.  There 
is  a  considerable  body  of  Friends  who  are  true  members  of 
the  family. 

S.  F. 


206 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Boston,  7th  Mo.,  31st,  1755. 

I  wrote  thee  from  Nantucket  about  five  weeks  ago, 
since  which  time  I  have  travelled  as  diligently  as  I  could,  and 
have  visited  several  parts  eastward  of  this  city,  and  had  many 
very  large  meetings,  both  among  Friends  and  in  several  places 
where  Truth  opened  my  way  amongst  others,  where  no  Friends 
lived,  which  have  been  signally  satisfactory  and  serviceable.  It 
hath  bowed  my  heart  in  reverence,  to  observe  and  feel  the  open- 
ness and  visitation  of  love  and  life  which  is  manifest  in  various 
places  in  this  formerly  persecuting  government ;  the  authority 
heretofore  exerted  to  suppress  our  meetings,  is  now  watchful  to 
support  them,  and  in  many  places  the  principal  people  flock 
into  meetings  in  crowds,  and  behave  with  great  solidity.  I  had 
yesterday  a  large  and  memorably  good  meeting  in  the  Court- 
house at  Marblehead,  about  twenty  miles  distant ;  and  about 
two  weeks  ago  one  of  the  most  eminently  favoured  meetings  I 
have  been  at,  in  the  Court-house  at  Portsmouth  ;  and  three  offers 
to  have  any  place  of  worship  they  had,  if  I  would  stay  another 
meeting ;  I  mention  it  with  a  bowed,  reverent  heart,  acknowledg- 
ing it  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  awfully  marvellous  in  my  eyes. 

Though  heavenly  support  to  labour  is  often  renewed,  and  in- 
ward peace  sustains  and  covers,  yet  I  have  largely  tasted  of  the 
cup  of  suffering,  as  I  have  felt  the  state  of  the  churches  as  I  have 
gone  along  ;  there  is  a  remnant  truly  living,  and  true  though  weak 
children,  who  want  help  and  guidance,  and  seek  it,  to  whom  the 
merciful  regard  of  the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth  freely  reaches, 
and  through  whom  I  hope  for  the  revival  of  ancient  beauty  ;  they 
are  principally  of  the  rising  generation  ;  the  greater  part  of  the 
more  advanced  in  years  are  rather  obstructions  than  helps  in  the 
way,  and  must  be  removed  before  the  family  will  be  rightly  reple- 
nished and  strengthened  from  the  Living  Fountain.  It  has  been 
exceedingly  hard  to  my  nature  to  treat  gray  hairs  in  the  manner 


jETAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


207 


Truth  itself  hath  led,  but  I  saw  no  other  way  to  peace  than  true 
obedience,  in  which,  though  through  affliction  and  distress,  I 
have  found  heavenly  regard,  and  I  ask  no  more. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  AND  SISTER. 

Boston,  8th  Mo.,  1st,  1755. 

Since  my  last,  I  have  pursued  my  journey  eighty  miles 
eastward  of  this  city,  and  was  about  to  go  down  to  Casio  Bay, 
to  see  two  small  meetings  of  Friends  who  have  gone  and  settled 
there,  about  seventy  miles  distant  from  any  other  meetings  in 
the  province,  but  unexpectedly  found  a  stop  in  my  mind,  and  a 
curtain  seemed  to  be  drawn  betwixt  me  and  those  parts,  which 
I  could  not  see  through,  and  found  my  way  opened  to  appoint 
some  meetings  amongst  the  people,  and  then  return  to  Boston. 
As  soon  as  I  had  finished  the  service  of  the  appointed  meetings, 
I  was  seized  with  violence  by  the  gout  in  ray  feet  and  stomach, 
and  having  procured  a  carriage,  I  returned  to  the  house  of  Zac- 
cheus  Collins,  at  Lynn,  a  kind  Friend,  who  hath  a  valuable 
wife  and  daughters,  who  waited  upon  me  with  great  affection, 
and  where  I  had  every  assistance  they  could  afford  me  ;  and, 
through  the  blessing  of  Divine  Goodness,  and  the  plentiful  use 
of  the  Bark,  the  fit,  which  I  feared  would  be  tedious,  left  me 
in  a  few  days.    I  was  pretty  much  disabled  for  six  days,  but 
got  out  to  two  large  meetings  at  Lynn,  on  1st  day — one  at  Sa- 
lem, and  a  very  large  and  memorably  good  meeting  at  Marble- 
head — and  came  to  their  meeting  here  yesterday,  which  was 
large  and  satisfactory.    I  could  not  but  admire  the  gracious 
Hand,  in  preventing  my  journey  eastwards  ;  I  must  have  been 
exposed  to  man  hardships,  and  no  assistance  ;  my  bed  might 
have  perhaps  been  in  the  woods,  in  that  time  of  distress.  Since 
my  recovery,  I  have  carefully  looked  whether  I  am  fully  clear, 
and  I  believe  I  am,  and  at  liberty  to  return  towards  Rhode- 
Island.    It  is  now  (except  one  day)  twelve  months  since  I  left 


208 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


my  own  habitation  ;  many  painful  events  have  attended,  much 
close  labour  and  travail  every  way,  but  all-sufficient  Help  and 
Goodness  remains  gracious,  renewing  a  humble,  reverent  trust, 
that  He  will,  in  his  own  time,  re-conduct  me  home  to  my  native 
land,  and  to  my  friends  and  relations,  both  in  the  natural  and 
spiritual  alliance  ;  but  the  lime  when,  is  hid  beyond  the  veil, 
and  right  it  should. 

2d  of  8lh  Mo. — I  dropped  my  pen  yesterday  under  a  weighty 
concern  to  appoint  an  evening  meeting  in  this  place,  and  upon 
its  being  mentioned  to  the  magistrates,  they  cheerfully  offered 
either  one  of  their  own  places  of  worship,  or  the  Town-hall, 
saying  that  our  own  house  was  too  small  to  accommodate  the 
people  who  inclined  to  come  in.  I  found  more  freedom  to  ac- 
cept their  offer  of  the  hall,  and  had  a  very  large  meeting  in  the 
evening,  at  which  were  present  about  two  thousand  people,  and 
amongst  them,  nearly  all  the  magistracy  of  the  place,  several 
of  their  ministers  and  principal  people  :  it  was  a  time,  I  be- 
lieve, never  to  be  forgotten  ;  the  power  and  wisdom  of  Truth 
was  a  canopy  over  the  meeting,  and  I  believe  the  Truth  itself 
gained  great  ground ;  let  every  part  of  the  gain,  glory,  and 
profit  be  ascribed  to  that  excellent  Name,  in  and  from  which  all 
wisdom  and  strength  proceed.  One  of  their  ancient  professors 
said  pretty  loud,  at  the  close  of  the  meeting,  "  I  thank  God  that 
I  have  once  heard  the  Gospel  of  life  and  peace  preached  in  its 
purity,  as  it  hath  been  this  day." 

It  is  with  a  deeply  bowed  heart  I  mention  this  and  other  cir- 
cumstances of  Divine  regard,  spreading  itself  to  the  people  in  a 
wonderful  manner.  I  hope  ever  to  remember  it  is  the  Lord's 
doings,  and  is  humblingly  marvellous  in  my  eyes,  and  I 
hope  will  be  a  means  of  encouragement  to  the  humble  seek- 
ers of  Zion's  prosperity,  to  labour  with  diligence  to  keep 
clean  the  camp  of  God,  that  its  purity  and  safety  may  appear 
to  those  whom  the  heavenly  Power  hath  shaken  in  their  false 
rests.  But,  alas  !  there  are  too  many  of  the  professors  of 
Truth  who  are  the  greatest  enemies  to  the  cross  of  Christ, 


-ffiTAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


209 


by  tlieir  corrupt  conversation ;  and  many  others,  though  more 
morally  clean,  dead  in  the  root,  and  rather  obstructions  to  the 
youth,  than  helpers  of  their  faith  ;  such  as  are  unsound  in 
various  parts  of  our  Christian  testimony,  are  leaders  among  the 
people  ;  and  the  favour  of  the  government,  in  exempting  Friends 
from  the  payment  of  priests'  wages,  hath  been  a  lasting  detri- 
ment to  the  cause  here,  by  a  hasty  admission  of  persons  who 
desire  to  be  made  members.  Many  are  very  desirous  of  an 
addition  to  their  meetings,  even  if  they  are  not  added  to  the 
Church  of  Christ,  from  views  of  a  corrupt  nature,  to  make  a 
figure  in  their  neighbourhood,  and  perhaps  bear  rule  in  it,  and 
gradually  get  names  on  earth,  and  a  share  in  the  management 
of  public  affairs ;  from  which,  however,  they  are  totally  excluded, 
and  may  they  ever  remain  so. 

There  is  a  remnant  of  right-spirited  people,  of  the  youth  and 
younger  race,  who  have  at  heart  the  cause  of  God,  and  the  regu- 
lation of  things  amongst  them,  with  whom  I  have  been  united 
in  labour,  and  helped  to  strengthen  their  hands,  having  been  at 
most  of  the  monthly  and  quarterly  meetings  in  New  England, 
and  hope  the  Lord  of  mercy  will  graciously  regard  the  cause  of 
his  Truth,  and  preserve  a  seed  to  his  own  praise. 

4th. — On  the  evening  of  the  2d  instant,  I  got  a  meeting 
amongst  Friends,  the  inhabitants  of  this  place,  which  was  to  my 
satisfaction  in  the  discharge  of  necessary  duty ;  and  j'esterday 
had  two  very  large,  solid  meetings,  to  true  satisfaction,  through 
heavenly  help,  which  was  great  amongst  us. 

I  am  now  clear  of  this  place,  which  hath  borne  weight  upon 
my  mind  at  times,  years  before  I  left  home,  and  hope  some 
service  hath  been  d'  ne.  May  the  gain  and  glory  be  wholly 
rendered  to  Him  who  alone  is  worthy  ;  it  is  he  that  is  the  staff 
and  stay  of  his  servants,  whether  their  feet  are  made  beautiful 
upon  the  mountains,  or  dipt  in  Jordan. 

With  respect  to  martial  affairs,  as  they  are  remote  from 
my  business,  I  meddle  not  with  them,  but  endeavour  rather 
to  draw  out  of  that  fire  and  bustle  too  prevalent  amongst  the 


210 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755 


people.  An  express  arrived  here  last  night,  with  a  confir- 
mation of  the  news  of  General  Braddock's  total  defeat,  with  the 
loss  of  about  700  men  killed,  himself  and  sixty  officers  amongst 
them,  and  the  train  of  artillery,  baggage,  &c.,  belonging  to  the 
army;  he  took  along  with  him  1,500  picked  men,  and  kept 
them  together  in  the  European  manner  ;  the  French  and  Indians, 
skulking  behind  the  trees  and  logs  of  wood,  destroyed  the 
English,  who  stood  collected  as  a  mark  for  some  time,  and  then 
left  their  officers  and  ran  away  :  it  is  said  the  enemies  were 
not  above  300  in  all — 150  Indians,  and  as  many  French. 

S.  F. 

JOSEPH  rOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

8th  Mo.,  19th,  1755. 

  My  late  indisposition  confined  me  several 

months,  which  to  me,  so  little  acquainted  with  ill  health,  was 
very  distressing,  both  to  body  and  mind,  and  I  have  been  often 
brought  very  low,  and  deeply  bowed  in  mind,  where  I  have 
been  made  sensible  of  the  supporting  hand  of  Divine  help  and 
consolation  underneath,  in  the  mosl  pinching  times ;  and  the 
extension  of  gracious  goodness  has  been  towards  me  when  in 
the  greatest  want,  for  which  gracious  dealings,  and  the  many 
favours  and  blessings  received,  my  soul  begs  I  may  be  pre- 
served in  an  humble  and  grateful  remembrance  of,  and  for  the 
remaining  few  days  I  have  to  spend,  which  I  often  think  may 
not  be  many,  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  redouble  my  diligence 
in  endeavouring  to  walk  worthy  of  the  regard  of  our  Heavenly 
Helper,  who,  as  leaned  unto,  will  not  only  enable  us  to  form 
good  resolutions,  but  to  come  up  duly  in  the  performance  of 
them. 

I  take  notice  with  much  thankfulness  of  thy  kind  concern 
and  regard  for  me  in  the  conduct  of  my  worldly  affairs,  and 
am  duly  sensible  that  thy  very  good  advice  springs  from  that 
Divine  Fountain  that  has  hitherto  freely  flowed  through  thee 
to  all  the  visited  of  God  Our  children,  through  mercy, 


jETAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


211 


are  in  health,  and  heavenly  goodness  is  near  to  the  tendering 
of  the  minds  of  many  of  them,  and  the  refreshing  dew,  I  hope, 
rests  upon  the  minds  of  those  growing  up  ;  it  is  my  earnest 
prayer  that  we,  their  parents,  may  be  preserved  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  be  exemplary  instruments  in  the  hand  of  our 
Heavenly  Father,  in  their  education  in  his  fear,  and  in  training 
them  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 

Joseph  Fothergill. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ABRAHAM  ANTHONY  AND  JACOB 
MOTT,  TWO  FRIENDS,  OF  RHODE  ISLAND. 

Nine  Partners,  9th  Mo.,  1755. 
In  the  fellowship  of  the  suffering  seed  amongst  you, 
I  affectionately  salute  you,  and  hereby  inform  you,  that  the 
situation  of  the  Society  in  your  parts  hath  been,  since  I  parted 
from  Rhode  Island,  the  frequent  and  painful  companion  of  my 
thoughts,  in  which  I  have  deeply  looked  to  see  how  it  might 
be  helped,  and  have  carefully  looked  at  the  proposal  of  enter- 
ing in  writing  the  names  of  such  as  are  to  be  deemed  members 
of  our  Society,  which,  upon  the  whole,  I  cannot  fully  fall  in 
with.  I  believe,  as  through  the  remissness  of  the  watchman 
the  present  disorder  hath  entered,  by  the  labours  of  the  watch- 
man the  remedy  must  be  obtained.  It  appears  to  me  the  like- 
liest method  to  know  who  are  of  you,  will  be  to  consider  that 
all  such  who  have  a  birthright  in  the  Society,  or  have  been 
admitted  upon  request,  or  been  employed  in  offices  of  the 
Church,  must  be  deemed  members,  and  under  the  care  of 
Friends,  and  that  a  visit  be  paid  to  all  such  as  frequent  meet- 
ings, and  have  not  a  right  to  membership  by  the  means 
aforesaid ;  the  visitors  taking  the  queries  agreed  to  last 
Yearly  Meeting,  and  solidly  reading  them  to  the  parties, 
may  acquaint  them  those  queries,  or  the  substance  thereof, 
are  universally  agreed  to  amongst  Friends  everywhere,  as 
the  rule  of  their  outward  conduct ;  and  if  they  desire  to  be 
accepted  as  members,  it  is  expected  they  concur  therewith,  and 


212 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


be  governed  thereby ;  if  such  submit  thereto,  and  testify  their 
concurrence  by  a  personal  appearance  at  the  Monthly  Meeting, 
or  to  Friends'  satisfaction,  a  minute  may  be  made  of  their  being 
deemed  and  accepted  as  members  of  the  Church.  If,  on  the 
contrary  hand,  any  declare  that  they  will  not  be  governed  by 
such  rules,  after  deliberate  waiting,  and  visiting  them,  they 
ought  to  be  deemed  strangers  to  us,  and  the  Society  no-ways 
answerable  for  their  conduct ;  but  as  they  belong  not  to  us,  I 
cannot  see  the  necessity  of  our  making  any  minute  against 
them.  This  method,  I  apprehend,  will  fully  distinguish  who 
are  of  you,  and  who  are  not ;  and  if  you  find  any,  who  by  the 
aforementioned  procedure  are  members,  who  are  spots  in  our 
feasts  of  charity,  labour  for  their  recovery,  and  if  they  continue 
obstinate,  place  Truth's  judgment  upon  them. 

I  believe,  before  Zion  shine  in  her  ancient  glory,  judgment 
must  begin  at  the  house  of  God,  and  the  refiner  known  among 
Levi's  sons,  and  the  ancients  of  the  house  ;  and  oh  that  none 
may  obstruct  its  work,  and  be  found  fighters  against  God,  by 
obstructing  his  work  in  themselves  or  others.  The  God  of  our 
fathers  establish  you  more  and  more  in  his  work,  and  work 
amongst  you  to  his  praise  and  your  comfort. 

Farewell,  farewell,  saith  your  true  friend  in  that  which  is 
unchangeable, 

S.  F. 

SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL  TO  HER  HUSBAND. 

Warrington,  9th  Mo.,  24th,  1755. 

My  soul  salutes  thee  in  near  and  true  affection,  and 
truly  wishes  thee  a  continuance  of  thy  health,  and  preser- 
vation through  the  various  trials  and  difficulties  that  Provi- 
dence in  his  wisdom  may  see  meet  to  allot  thee  ;  so  that 
neither  heights,  nor  depths,  nor  whatever  commotions  may  be 
amongst  men,  may  be  able  to  move  thee  from  that  sure  help 
that  hath  been  with  thee  hitherto ;  hath  been  thy  battle-axe 


jETAT.  39.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


213 


and  weapons  of  war,  and  hath  covered  thy  head  in  the  day  of 
battle.  Mayst  thou  not  be  dismayed,  though  storms  may  arise, 
and  difficulties  seem  to  surround  thee  on  every  side,  yet  stronger 
is  He  that  is  in  us,  than  he  that  is  in  the  world,  and  more  mighty 
than  men,  and  can  turn  and  overturn ;  and  let  us  poor  mortals 
know  that  He,  the  Most  High,  rules  on  earth  as  well  as  in 
heaven  ;  that  his  works  are  works  of  wonder,  and  his  ways  past 
finding  out.  My  soul  hath  been  bowed,  and  thoughtfulness  has 
taken  hold  of  my  mind,  on  hearing  of  the  hurries  and  confu- 
sion on  that  side  tlie  ocean  ;  yet  never  doubting  but  the  righteous 
will  be  supported,  will  have  a  rock  to  flee  to,  and  a  safe  hiding- 
place  and  peaceful  habitation  that  the  world  cannot  deprive 
them  of.  Yet  is  my  soul  bound  in  sympathy  with  thee,  be- 
lieving many  difficulties  may  attend  thee,  yet  firmly  believing 
thou  art  in  thy  proper  place,  and  mayst,  in  the  hand  of  the  Great 
Master,  be  made  helpful  to  the  weak,  and  an  encouragement  to 
good  Friends,  who,  I  doubt  not,  will  be  glad  thy  lot  is  cast 
among  them.  Some  of  them  I  often  remember  with  near  re- 
gard ;  I  was  pleased  to  hear  thou  got  the  company  of  dear  John 
Pemberton,  and  should  be  glad  thou  might  be  favoured  with  more 
of  it ;  ever  since  I  saw  him,  I  thought  him  a  hopeful  youth,  and 
I  hope  he  will  hold  on  his  way. 

I  have  had  several  Friends  lodging  here  ;  we  had  the  com- 
pany of  our  worthy  friend  Edmund  Peckover  two  days.  I 
parted  with  him  at  Frandley  ;  he  has  laboured  closely  amongst 
us,  and  has  had  good  service  ;  the  dew  of  his  youth  still  rests 
upon  him. 

Susanna  Fothergill. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

John  Churchman's,  East  Nottingham, 
9th  Mo.,  30th,  1755. 

In  the  near  and  tender  sense  of  that  love  which  many 
waters  cannot  quench  nor  distance  impair,  I  most  affectionately 
salute  thee,  having,  through  the  mercy  of  all-sufficient  help^ 


214 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


never,  I  hope,  to  be  forgotten,  still  to  continue  the  agreeable 
accounts  of  my  progress,  under  the  sense  of  heavenly  protection 
every  vi^ay,  being  supported  in  health,  to  my  thankful  admira- 
tion, and  am  now  in  belter  health  and  ability  to  labour  than  when 
I  left  home.  Friends  think  I  am  much  stronger  than  when  I 
arrived,  although  I  have  travelled  about  six  thousand  miles  in 
less  than  twelve  months  ;  neither  hath  inward  health  been  with- 
held, in  the  wise  proportions  of  Infinite  Knowledge,  whose  ways 
are  indeed  unsearchable  ;  although  many  painful  baptisms,  for 
the  dead  and  dying,  have  fallen  to  my  lot,  yet  I  have  humble 
cause  of  rejoicing  in  hope,  my  labour  for  the  help  of  others,  and 
the  obtaining  true  peace,  hath  not  been  altogether  in  vain.  And 
although  I  have  often  to  walk  by  faith,  and  not  by  sight,  or 
sense  of  much  present  feeling,  yet  the  invisible,  holy  Stay  is 
graciously  near,  to  give  renewed  testimonies.  I  am  separated 
from  thee,  for  the  cause  of  God  and  his  Truth,  and  we  are  both 
under  his  fatherly  regard  for  good  ;  we  can  never  be  more  safe 
than  under  his  hand,  and  in  his  service.  I  have  now  visited 
the  province  of  New-York,  Long  Island,  Narraganset,  Rhode 
Island,  and  New  England,  pretty  thoroughly,  and  had  abundant 
labour,  both  in  the  gospel  ministry  and  the  re-establishment  of 
discipline.  I  have  visited  some  parts  of  the  Jerseys,  and  was 
at  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  Philadelphia  last  week,  to  some  good 
service  ;  the  meeting  was  very  large,  and  to  great  general  satis- 
faction ;  after  the  meeting,  I  came  down  directly  with  John 
Churchman  to  his  house,  to  enjoy  a  "  flat  calm,"  as  he  expresses 
it. 

I  was  often  present  in  spirit  with  Friends  at  the  Northern 
Yearly  Meeting,  and  pleased  to  hear  it  was  satisfactory,  though 
I  believe,  from  some  who  were  there,  there  would  be  a  great 
deal  more  of  the  bell,  than  of  the  pomegranate.  But  humbly 
thankful  I  am  there  are  a  remnant  left,  who  have  them  placed 
about  their  robes  in  due  number  and  proportion.  Some  of  that 
happy  number  I  find  here,  and  too  many  of  a  different  sort. 

S.  F. 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


215 


(Addition  by  John  Churchman.) 

Dear  Friend  Susanna  Fothergill, 

Thy  dear  husband  was  so  good  as  to  offer  me  this,  in 
order  that  I  might  have  an  opportunity  to  assure  thee  that  the 
tender  regard  and  near  unity  which  from  our  first  acquaintance 
made  near  impressions  reciprocally  on  each  of  our  minds,  to  the 
laying  a  sure  foundation  of  friendship,  still  remain  as  steadfast 
as  ever  ;  and  in  a  renewed  sense  thereof,  my  prayer  to  the  Fa- 
ther of  all  our  mercies  is,  that  He  would  still  be  pleased  to 
preserve  and  keep  us  under  the  wing  of  his  love,  and  increase 
our  affections  in  warmth  to  himself,  for  therein  stands  the  fellow- 
ship of  all  his  children.  Thy  dear  husband,  to  my  great  satis- 
faction, has  made  a  small  tarry  at  my  house,  in  order  to  give  rest 
to  the  body,  which,  by  overmuch  fatigue,  may  be  so  debilitated 
as  to  be  a  clog  to  a  willing  spirit.  Perhaps  these  few  lines, 
mean  as  they  are,  may  meet  with  no  less  acceptance  for  being 
joined  to  the  foregoing  epistle.  In  much  tender  affection,  in 
which  my  dear  wife  joins,  I  conclude,  thy  real  friend, 

John  Churchman. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

East  Nottingham,  10th  Mo.,  3d,  1755. 

Thou  art  the  frequent  companion  of  my  thoughts,  and 
that  with  hope  and  desire,  as  for  myself,  that  every  degree  of 
happiness  may  attend,  and  that  proportioned  to  the  just  sense 
thou  hast  received,  wherein  it  alone  consists.  I  am  thankful  for 
the  favour  of  thy  recovery  ;  I  cannot  doubt  thy  awful  remem- 
brance of  the  supporting  hand,  and  careful  inquiry  after  the  mind 
of  Him  who  humbles  to  the  brink  of  the  grave,  and  raises  up 
again.  His  mercies  are  unutterable,  and  demand  reverent  hearts. 
O,  that  we  may  never  forget  what  he  hath  done  for  us,  or  be 
rendered  unworthy  of  the  further  notice  and  regard  of  a  being 
who  remembers  his  children  from  generation  to  generation,  and 


216 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


supports  through  all  their  trials  to  a  peaceful  habitation  with 
himself. 

I  expect  to  spend  this  winter  in  these  provinces  :  not  only  for 
the  continuance  of  bodily  strength,  but  the  renewal  of  ability 
to  labour  in  the  Lord's  work,  is  my  spirit  bowed  in  humble 
worship.  Many  are  the  painful  steps  amongst  the  dead  and 
the  dying  I  have  to  tread  ;  the  heritage  seems  in  some  places 
almost  laid  waste,  through  the  negligence  of  those  who  call 
themselves  watchmen,  who  appear  to  me  the  very  tail  of  the 
flock ;  and  it  seems  as  if,  whilst  the  people  have  made  the 
outward  wilderness  as  a  fruitful  field,  the  plantation  and  garden 
of  God  have  been  made  as  a  neglected  desert,  and  barren  wil- 
derness. 

There  are  a  living  remnant  amongst  the  various  classes  in 
age  who  keep  their  garments  clean,  and  are  strong  to  labour  in 
the  Lord's  work  ;  and  work  indeed  there  is,  for  all  who  are  of 
a  willing  heart ;  and  I  trust  their  labour  will  bring  some  advan- 
tage to  the  family,  and  peace  to  themselves. 

My  good  old  faithful  companion  and  servant,  who  carried  me 
2300  miles  last  winter,  whom  I  left  in  Virginia,  very  near  his 
exit,  as  T  thought,  hath  been  brought  up  to  me  here,  this  week, 
in  tolerably  good  order ;  and  I  expect  a  great  deal  more  service 
from  him,  as  my  journeys  will  be  shorter,  and  provisions  plenty 
and  good.  The  poor  old  creature  knew  my  voice  when  I  spoke 
to  him,  and  gave  all  the  signs  of  joy  on  meeting  me  that  such  a 
creature  is  capable  of. 

Dear  sister,  I  am  abundantly  sensible  of  the  place  I  have 
in  thine,  and  dear  brother's  affectionate  remembrance  ; 
though,  perhaps,  when  sometimes  in  secret  concealed  distress j 
and  disappointed  of  hearing  from  you,  a  painful  thought 
may  be  suggested,  and  sometimes  drop  from  my  pen  like 
a  complaint,  yet  I  know  it  is  groundless,  am  sensible  of 
tender  sympathy,  and  at  times,  in  spirit,  as  near  as  if  a 
partaker  of  conversation  with  you  both.  This  intellectual 
union  has  been  often  relieving,  and  I  am  humbly  thankful, 


aiTAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


217 


that  though  the  tenderest  affection  reigns  undiminished  in  my 
breast,  I  have  not  an  anxious  wish  towards  England  ;  this  be- 
ing, in  the  course  of  Providence,  my  proper  lot  for  the  present. 
I  have  now  been  about  a  week  more  than  a  year  in  this  land, 
and  have  travelled  6,200  miles.  I  intended  to  have  transmitted 
to  thee  an  account  of  my  journey,  in  the  nature  of  a  journal,  but 
my  time  is  so  engrossed  I  have  not  time,  but  have  hitherto  kept 
on  account  of  my  manner  of  spending  each  day  since  my  arrival. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  a  good  account  of  the  Yearly  Meeting ; 
I  was  daily  present  in  spirit,  and  in  humble  request  for  the 
overshadowing  of  best  wisdom  over  you.  White-hart  court* 
was  then,  and  oftentimes,  a  place  I  visited  in  mind. 

S.  F. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  DR.  FOTHERGILL. 

Maiden  Creek,  in  Pennsylvania,  10th  Mo.,  20th,  1755. 

The  signal  proofs  of  Divine  help  which  have  been  ex- 
leaded  towards  me  and  others,  through  my  labours  in  the  gos- 
pel service,  will,  I  hope,  ever  be  remembered  by  me  in  the 
manner  they  ought,  to  my  profit  and  encouragement,  in  devot- 
edness  of  heart  to  him  who  is  ever  highly  worthy  of  obedience 
and  faithful  service,  and  will  never  send  his  servants  out  at  their 
own  expense,  but  amply  supply  out  of  his  own  inexhaustible 
treasure  of  riches,  wisdom,  and  strength  :  indeed,  who  is  like 
him,  or  able  to  enrich  as  he  ?  Human  understanding,  glory,  or 
friendship,  are  poor  in  possession,  and  in  event.  But  never- 
failing  is  the  fountain  of  unchangeable  good  ;  and  though  he 
feed  his  people  with  the  rod,  yet  the  nourishment  is  divinely 
sanctified,  and  the  flock  of  his  heritage,  though  in  the  wood,  is 
environed  with  invisible,  yet  invincible  salvation. 

Since  my  last,  I  went  down  to  a  Yearly  Meeting  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  and  returned  with  John  Church- 

•  Djctor  Fothergill's  residence. 
29 


2lS  SlBMOms  AND  LETTERS  [1755, 

man  to  his  house  ;  I  liave  also  proceeded  through  the  western 
side  of  this  province,  and  have  had  many  large  and  truly  pre- 
cious meetings,  although  the  service  hath  been  laborious, 
amongst  a  people,  the  elder  part  whereof  seem  not  only  dry? 
but  very  dry  ;  yet  there  is  a  number  of  young  people  of  the 
Hebrew  race  coming  up  out  of  their  dens,  and  clothed  upon 
with  the  vesture  of  righteousness  and  holy  zeal ;  and  indeed 
the  cause  hath  need  of  them. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Philadelphia,  11th  Mo.,  6th,  1755. 

I  strongly  hope  He  who  hath  called  to  this  work  will 
support  and  enable  me  to  bear  it  with  resignation  and  patience, 
and  in  his  due  time  restore  me  to  my  beloved  friends  in  my  na- 
tive land  ;  and  in  the  mean  time  will  preserve  us  living  to  him- 
self in  the  eternal  covenant  of  light  and  life  ;  for  abundant  ex- 
perience testifies  that  therein  is  our  safety,  beauty,  and  use,  and 
proper  capacity  of  yielding  service  to  Him  who  is  worthy  of  obe- 
dience, worship,  and  fear  for  ever.  Abundantly  good  and  gracious 
hath  he  vouchsafed  to  be  to  my  soul,  in  this  painful  labour  in 
which  I  am  engaged,  and  hath  often  filled  with  his  own  holy  rain, 
his  heritage  ;  and  made,  at  times,  as  a  sharp  threshing  instru- 
ment in  his  hand,  to  thresh  the  lofty  mountains  to  pieces,  and  to 
bow  the  sturdy  oaks  of  Bashan.  It  hath  been  his  own  work 
and  gracious  condescension,  and  to  him  over  all  be  the  praise 
ascribed,  who  is  God  of  the  mountains,  and  lifter  up  of  the  low 
valleys,  and  their  distressed  inhabitants. 

I  hinted  that  something  would  be  likely  to  detain  me 
longer  than  I  once  thought,  and  I  believe  it  will  be  my 
duty  to  visit  all  the  Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings  within 
the  verge  of  this  Yearly  Meeting :  it  hath  pleased  the  holy 
Master  of  our  assemblies  to  clothe  my  spirit  with  a  concern 
for  the  renewal  of  the  discipline  in  his  family  ;  and  he  halb 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


219 


been  near  to  direct  in  'wisdona,  and  to  give  me  such  a  place 
amongst  Friends  here  as  to  open  my  way  greatly  in  that  respect ; 
and  I  believe  in  this  service  William  Brown  and  John  Church- 
man will  by  turns  favour  me  with  their  company,  which  I  es- 
teem a  favour. 

I  returned  here  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  which  was  very 
large,  and  strongly  good  in  various  respects  ;  and  as  the  assembly 
for  the  province  have,  in  some  respects,  I  think,  acted  very  in- 
consistently with  the  principles  they  profess,  I  had  a  concern  to 
have  an  opportunity  with  such  of  them  as  are  members  of  our 
society,  being  twenty-eight  out  of  thirty-six ;  and  they  gave  some 
Friends  and  me  an  opportunity  this  morning  to  relieve  our  spirits 
to  them. 

Some  of  those  parts  I  visited  last  winter  are  now  in  great 
confusion,  by  reason  of  the  Indians  having  done  some  mischief; 
they  have  destroyed  several  families,  and  spread  a  general  terror 
over  the  back  inhabitants  of  this  province ;  and  this  city  was,  a 
few  days  ago,  alarmed  by  accounts  of  1,800  French  and  Indians 
being  within  seventy  miles  of  this  city,  on  their  march  to  it ;  but 
it  was  a  false  rumour.  But  the  deviation  of  many  from  our 
testimony,  and  their  desertion  of  an  arm  which  has  been  their 
sure  defence  above  seventy  years,  and  guarded  them  from  hos- 
tile invasions  and  bloodshed,  and  now,  leaning  to  their  own 
strength,  and  actually  putting  the  people  in  arms  in  some  places, 
seems  to  me  a  presage  of  distress  they  will  find  hard  to  bear. 
1  expect  you  will  have  great  rumours  of  mischief  done  by  the 
Indians  in  this  province ;  but  the  latest  and  best  accounts  to  this 
day  do  not  amount  to  above  ten  or  twelve  killed ;  but  multitudes 
have  fled  from  their  habitations. 

I  was  some  weeks  ago  at  a  settlement  of  Friends  beyond  the 
Blue  Mountains,  who  were  then  in  great  quiet,  but  have  since 
all  removed,  through  fear  of  the  Indians,  and  left  their  planta- 
tions and  dwellings  desolate.  In  the  midst  of  this  confusion, 
too  few  know  the  Rock  of  Defence,  or  have  confidence  towards 
the  Ruler  of  heaven  and  earth  ;  their  minds  scattered,  and  their 


220 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


foundations  discovered  very  weak,  having  lost  confidence  in  the 
Divine  arm,  trust  in  their  own. 

From  this  account  thou  may  sensibly  judge  of  the  painful  la- 
bour I  must  undergo,  to  obtain  ease,  and  discharge  my  duty  ;  all 
the  hardships  of  tiavel  last  winter,  though  very  great,  were  no- 
thing in  comparison  of  the  anguish  of  spirit  I  feel  for  this  back- 
sliding people,  though  there  are,  and  even  in  the  assembly,  a 
number  who  remember,  with  humble  trust  and  confidence,  the 
everlasting  Protector  of  his  people. 

I  dare  not  dissipate  my  strength  by  one  wishful  look  toward 
my  native  land,  beloved  wife  and  tender  friends,  so  as  to  desire  to 
see  them  ;  but  steadily  and  honestly  labour  here  according  to  the 
ability  given  :  circumscribing  all  my  views  within  the  bounds  of 
duty,  and  resigning  all  my  will,  power,  and  faculties  unto  the  will 
of  Heaven ;  who  hath  indeed  been  pleased  often  to  renew  wis- 
dom and  strength  beyond  the  usual  proportion  of  my  measure,  and 
to  support  by  his  invincible  arm  in  many  deep  concealed  trials. 

I  have  no  confidant  here  but  the  Lord  alone ;  here  are  many 
worthy  Friends,  and  dear  John  Churchman  is  like  bone  of  bone; 
but  I  have  found  it  my  safety  and  strength  to  be  hidden  and  deep- 
ly reserved  from  all  unbosoming  my  complaints  to  any  mortal, 
and  before  the  holy  Eye  alone  to  spread  my  cause. 

Thou  hast  a  right  to  know  my  secret  heart,  and  canst  enter 
into  its  chambers,  and  in  sympathy  feel  with  and  pray  for  my 
help  ;  and  I  know  thou  art  inwardly  bowed  with  me  and  for 
me  to  the  Lord  of  help. 

Brother  Joseph's  letter  gave  me  great  satisfaction,  on  his  own 
and  dear  sister  Hannah  and  children's  account,  towards  all 
whom  my  heart  is  often  filled  with  a  love  which  is  not  derived 
from  mere  nature,  and  in  the  embraces  of  it  they  are  often 
fresh  in  my  mind  ;  but  this  is  all  I  can  at  present  find  a  way 
to  manifest.  May  all  our  dwelling  be  in  that  hidden  root  of 
communion  whence  all  the  various  branches  derive  nourishment, 
and  we  shall  be  as  epistles  writen  on  one  another's  hearts  by 
the  finger  of  God.  S.  F. 


^TAT.  39.] 


OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


221 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Chester,  in  Pennsylvania,  11th  Mo.,  11th,  1755. 
A  variety  of  close,  painful  labour,  hereaway,  com- 
mands the  attendance  of  every  faculty  of  my  soul  and  spirit ; 
though  my  affection  to  beloved  relatives  is  undiminished,  and 
I  am  allowed  at  times  to  run  in  thought  from  one  to  another, 
yet  the  painful  sensation  of  absence  hath  been  very  much 
removed.  I  esteem  it  a  singular  mercy  from  the  everlasting 
fountain  of  mercy  thus  to  slay  my  mind  in  its  proper  centre  ;  to 
hide  my  native  land,  beloved  friends,  and  each  tender  connection, 
within  the  veil,  to  prevent  a  dissipation  of  mind  to  which  I  am 
too  prone,  and  to  keep  my  strength  collected  and  firm  for  the 
anxious  labour  of  the  day. 

And,  indeed,  the  sum  of  Divine  mercies  is  unutterable,  of 
which  my  soul  hath  been  made  partaker,  for  my  own  and 
others'  help  ;  it  hath  been  renewed  from  day  to  day,  in  deep 
and  wise  proportions  ;  sometimes  more  scarce,  and  deeply  hid 
from  sight  or  sense,  to  awaken  awful  search  ;  sometimes  more 
evidently  manifest,  to  confirm  humble  confidence  in  the  all- 
sufficient  Helper;  thus,  deep  memorable  leaching  hath  been 
administereJ,  which  I  hope  will  not  be  forgotten  in  any  future 
period  of  my  life.  The  continued  support  of  bodily  health 
claims  thankful  notice  ;  I  never  was  more  healthy  than  through 
this  country. 

I  have  been  favoured  with  the  profitable  company  of  that 
truly  great  and  good  man,  John  Churchman,  in  various  meetings 
in  this  province,  and  to  be  now  and  then  my  fellow-traveller. 

I  have  assigned  sufficient  reasons  before,  why  I  dare  not 
point  out  the  time  of  my  return  home  ;  it  is  concealed,  and 
I  dare  not  attempt  to  draw  the  curtain ;  I  hope  to  be 
preserved  steadily  dependent  upon  Him  who,  I  have  reason 
to  believe,  drew  me  out  from  all  that  is  dear  in  life  ;  and 
who,  I  trust,  will,  in  his  own  time,  restore  me  to  them 


222  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1755. 

again,  in  the  fruition  of  that  peace  which  sweetly  seasons  every 
dispensation,  and  whose  tender  humbling  effect  is  the  strongest 
cement  of  the  family  of  our  Heavenly  Father.  Thou  knows, 
beloved  sister,  whose  service  I  am  in,  though  unworthy  to 
be  ranked  amongst  his  servants  ;  and  that  he  hath  a  right  to  be 
obeyed,  and  devotedly  served,  whose  power  is  over  all,  and  his 
mercy  is  to  those  who  fear  him.  These  considerations,  with 
which  thy  mind  is  experimentally  conversant,  will  lead  to  a 
humble  quietude  and  resignedness. 

I  am  easy  and  quiet ;  I  know  I  am  not  forgotten,  and  that 
my  dear  friends  are  affectionately,  and  in  true  sympathy,  mind- 
ful of  me.  I  feel  the  strongest  reciprocal  returns  ;  may  it  ever 
he  mutually  cultivated,  and  grow  to  the  brightness  of  that 
friendship  which  is  the  glorious  fellowship  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Mount  Zion. 

I  must  conclude  this  testimony  of  near  and  tender  remem- 
brance. My  spirit  is  nearly  united  to  thee  in  that  which  is 
stronger  than  natural  alliance — the  hidden  communion  of  souls, 
rectified  by  wisdom,  and  refined  by  the  power  of  redemption. 

S.  F. 

JOHN  PEMBERTON   TO  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  11th  Mo.,  18th,  1755. 
I  spent  most  of  last  week  with  thy  dear  spouse, 
and  intend  to  set  out  this  morning  to  meet  him  again.  He 
has  his  health,  and  looks  much  better  than  he  used  to  do 
in  his  native  land,  notwithstanding  his  deep  labours,  in 
body  and  spirit,  which  are  great,  his  testimony  awakening 
and  powerful,  and  I  think  he  grows  in  the  root  and  solid 
substance.  His  company  is  particularly  acceptable,  to 
solid  friends,  at  this  lime  of  difliculty,  wherein  his  advice  has 
been  strengthening,  and  his  testimony  clear  and  weighty 
against  such  that  join  with  the  world  in  spirit,  and  in  its 
carnal  reasonings  ;  too  many  of  such  there  are,  that  hearken 
to  the  clamours  of  the  people,  and  are  dismayed  with  the 


JETxr.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


223 


world's  dismay.  Yet  there  are  such  that  can,  in  humihty 
and  thankfulness,  say  they  are  favoured  with  a  quiet  habi- 
tation. 

John  Pemberton. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  DR.  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  11th  Mo.,  24th,  1755. 
Thus  far  peace  hath  attended  my  steps  ;  excellent 
glory  be  ascribed  to  its  Author  !  Although  the  daily  opening 
through  the  spirit  of  discerning  the  state  of  the  meetings,  fami- 
lies, and  at  times  of  particular  persons,  hath  subjected  to  pain 
and  distress,  and  more  exercising  than  bodily  fatigue,  yet  the 
holy  spring  of  counsel  hath  issued  in  its  pure  crystal  streams  ; 
which,  though  they  have  spread  wide  and  freely  flowed,  have 
not  left  the  channel  through  which  they  run  dry  and  sandy,  but 
in  due  wise  proportions  both  cleansed  and  made  it  frailful  in 
inward  enlargement  of  experience,  how  to  trust  the  sacred 
fountain  for  fresh  supplies,  improve  those  already  administered, 
and  abide  empty  until  the  appointed  time  for  replenishing  come. 

I  received,  soon  after  I  arrived  here,  a  command  and  promise 
from  my  Lord  and  Master,  that  I  should  make  him  alone  my 
confidant,  and  if  he  should  communicate  some  pearls  for  my 
own  use  and  treasure,  not  to  spread  them  to  public  view,  but 
return  them  into  his  treasury  undiminished.  And  likewise  that 
in  all  my  distressing,  pinching  hours,  I  should  to  him  alone 
unbosom  my  pain,  and  spread  my  hands  towards  his  holy  habi- 
tation ;  and  upon  these  conditions,  and  a  faithful  discharge  of 
duty  before  him,  he  would  fill  my  treasury,  and  that  with  the 
riches  of  his  own  presence,  and  hear  in  the  day  of  trouble,  and 
enable  patiently  to  possess  my  soul  in  the  invisible  probations 
of  companionship  with  his  suffering  seed.  Thus  reserved  and 
concealed,  under  the  appearance  of  a  cheerful,  quiet  counte- 
nance, I  have  been  helped  to  step  along  without  making 
complaint  to  any,  or  boasting  of  riches  not  my  own.  It  has 
created  no  confidants,  but  left  me  single  from  all,  and  by  somo, 


224 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


perhaps,  considered  as  void  of  much  knowledge  in  my  own  pri- 
vate capacity,  and  by  others  as  an  unnecessarily  reserved  and 
uncommunicative  person. 

But  it  hath  tended  to  my  peace  and  ease,  and  T  have  not 
wanted  bread  in  my  own  house  by  an  unnecessary  profusion  of 
it  to  such  as  perhaps  had  not  teeth  to  chew  it,  and  would  have 
been  hurt  by  it  if  they  had  attempted  to  swallow  it. 

This  simple,  eternal  Truth,  soon  spoken  or  written,  but  of 
extent  inconceivable  to  the  carnal  mind,  I  have  found  my  stay 
and  comfort. — That  God  is  good  to  the  upright,  sincere  heart, 
and  will  not  forsake  them,  let  their  attainments  be  more  or  less 
splendid,  or  their  stations  what  they  may  ;  he  will  protect  in 
summer's  heat  and  winter's  storms,  and  though  they  may  walk 
upon  the  waves,  or  be  ready  to  sink  in  them,  if  the  petition 
be  in  good  earnest,  Help,  Lord,  or  I  sink,  and  a  right  disposi- 
tion remain  to  lay  hold  of  the  outstretched  hand,  he  will,  of  his 
great  mercy,  renew  as  of  old  the  expressions.  It  is  I,  be  not 
afraid.  My  heart  and  pen  have  outrun  my  expectation,  in  thus 
expressing  my  feelings,  but  it  is  to  those  to  whom  I  am  allied 
by  a  connexion  nearer  and  stronger  than  nature,  who  may  per- 
haps read  it  with  those  emotions  of  friendship  and  sympathy 
which  I  hope  will  ever  furnish  salt  to  our  correspondence. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  on  the  18th  instant,  this 
province  was  pretty  generally  alarmed  with  the  shock  of  an 
earthquake,  which  occasioned  great  consternation,  but  I  do 
not  hear  of  any  damage  that  ensued,  unless  the  breaking  of 
some  chinaware  and  glasses.  I  was  then  at  Aaron  Ashbridge's 
house,  and  being  in  some  pain  of  mind,  my  sleep  was  taken 
from  me,  and  thereby  I  was  enabled  to  observe  the  progress 
of  it  with  some  accuracy.  I  heard  no  noise  like  that  of  a 
rushing  wind,  which  was  heard  in  many  places,  but  a  gentle 
shaking  of  my  bed,  in  such  a  manner  as  convinced  me  what 
it  was,  which  continued  to  increase,  and  the  windows,  by 
the  increasing  trepidation  of  the  earth,  began  to  rattle ;  some 
china  upon  a  chest  of  drawers  was  moved  pretty  much, 


.-ETAT.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


225 


as  I  conjectured ;  it  gradually  increased  for  one  minute,  and 
opened  the  door  of  my  chamber  by  drawing  the  bolt  of  the  lock 
out  of  the  staple. 

As  its  increase  was  gradual,  so  was  its  decrease,  and  of  the 
same  duration,  viz.,  about  one  minute  ;  it  did  not  much  exceed 
in  all  two  minutes,  nor  was  it  any  less.  I  perceived  the  shocks 
of  two  earthquakes  in  England,  and  one  upon  Long  Island,  in 
9tli  Month  last,  but  they  were  little  in  comparison  of  this,  and 
not  all  of  so  long  extent  of  time.  Here  are  numbers,  as  in 
England,  who,  in  order  to  take  off  any  awful  impressions  from 
the  people,  immediately  resolve  their  being  into  natural  causes, 
lest  the  Lord  of  nature  should  be  remembered  and  inquired  after. 
True  it  is,  he  hath  commanded  the  subserviency  of  the  ele- 
ments to  himself,  and  his  merciful  regard  to  unworthy  mankind, 
3'et  hath  he  them  in  readiness  to  execute  his  purposes  of  chas- 
tisement and  reproof.  Though  they  bear  a  part  in  the  general 
song  of  praise  to  the  author  of  their  being,  yet,  at  times,  their 
language  relative  to  mortals  is,  "  My  Father,  shall  I  smile  them? 
Shall  I  smite  them  ?" 

Very  distracted  is  the  present  state  of  this  province :  several 
cruel  murders  have  been  committed  on  the  frontiers,  and  sixteen 
people  destroyed  about  the  9lh  instant,  within  less  than  ninety 
miles  of  this  city;  which  was  done  by  a  gang  of  banditti,  part 
Indians,  with  some  Irish  among  them.  I  was  at  the  place  about 
five  weeks  ago,  but  do  not  understand  any  Friends  are  hurt. 
The  five  Indian  nations  who  conquered  the  Delawares  sold 
some  part  of  the  ancient  inheritance  of  these  last  to  the  pro- 
prietors, some  few  years  since,  alleging  the  right  of  sale  to  be 
in  them  as  conquerors,  and  the  goods  were  divided  amongst  the 
five  nations,  principally,  to  the  discontent  of  the  Delawares, 
who  still  judged  themselves  justly  entitled  to  some  equivalent 
for  their  land,  which  either  the  inattention  of  the  proprietors  or 
their  want  of  information  induced  them  to  disregard  ;  and  it  is 
pretty  much  on  this  land,  and  land  fraudulently  obtained,  that 
the  barbarities  are  committed. 

30  S.  F. 


226 


MEMOIRiS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Philadelphia,  lllh  Mo.,  24,  1755. 

I  have,  since  my  last,  been  closely  engaged  in  a  part 
of  this  province  adjacent  to  this  city,  and  been  favoured  with  the 
renewing  of  blessed  help,  to  labour  in  many  large,  and,  I  hope, 
some  of  them  memorable  meetings,  though  in  very  deep,  dis- 
tressing, painful  service  ;  but  it  is  enough  ;  and  the  sum  of  my 
desires,  the  Ebenezer  of  all  ages,  is  near,  to  strengthen,  with 
the  stretching  out  of  his  own  glorious  arm,  to  enable  to  clear  his 
own  name,  and  the  heads  of  his  servants,  from  the  blood  of  the 
people. 

On  the  18th  instant,  this  province  was  alarmed  by  a  severe 
shock  of  an  earthquake  ;  it  is  the  second  I  have  perceived  in  less 
than  three  months,  but  the  most  alarming  and  terrible  I  have 
felt  

It  fell  upon  me,  in  a  vast  congregation,  last  night,  in  this  city, 
to  remind  the  inhabitants  of  this  awful  visitation,  with  the 
sword  now  destroying  upon  their  borders.  The  subject  was 
awful ;  and  a  very  eminent  degree  of  holy  authority  and  wisdom 
attended,  to  make  it,  I  believe,  memorably  advantageous  to  some, 
as  it  was  melting  to  many  hundreds  present.  What  livingly  open- 
ed was  5th  and  6th  verses  of  the  19tli  Revelations.*  I  men- 
tion it  with  reverent  praise  to  the  ever  blessed  Fountain  of  sure 
supply  and  help,  who,  and  who  alone,  is  worthy  of  all  honour, 
dominion,  and  pre-eminence  for  ever. 

Great  is  the  perturbation  of  many,  and  plain  the  discovery 
now  made  of  the  unprofitable  professions  many  have  made 
of  religion,  in  this  time  of  clamour  and  rumour  of  war ;  few 

*  And  a  voice  came  out  of  the  throne,  saying,  Praise  our  God,  all  ye 
his  servants,  and  ye  that  fear  him,  both  small  and  great. 

And  I  heard  as  it  were  the  voice  of  a  great  mulliiude,  and  as  the  voice 
of  many  waters,  and  as  the  voice  of  mighty  thunderings,  saying  ;  Alleluia ; 
for  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth.    Rev.  xix.  5,  6. 


jEtaT.  40. 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


227 


know  where  to  have  recourse  for  a  rock  of  defence,  and  a  safe 
hiding.  Agitated  with  fear  and  horror,  they  feel  their  want  of 
a  good  foundation  in  this  time  of  need.  I  hope  it  may  be  pro- 
fitable to  many  in  the  issue,  though,  for  the  present,  it  is  pain- 
ful to  such  as  are  concerned  to  labour  amongst  them.  The 
fears  of  the  people  are  not  groundless,  nor  hath  any  occasion 
been  given  to  raise  them  to  such  a  degree  ;  about  seventy  In- 
dians have  been  known  together,  who  have  burned  several 
houses,  and  scalped  some  people.  But  I  meddle  not  with 
these  proceedings  ;  they  are  not  my  province  or  business. 

I  remember  thee  and  dear  relations  affectionately;  and  am 
sensible  I  have  in  this  labour  the  union  and  sympathy  of  many, 
who  are  near  to  my  spirit.  Dear  Sarah  Chorley  has  a  place 
in  my  near  regard.  I  have  often  remembered  her  for  the 
work's  sake,  which  the  Lord  hath  begun  and  carried  on  in 
her  mind,  and  would  and  will  perfect  it  as  he  is  steadily 
looked  to. 

S.  F. 

LYDIA  LANCASTER  TO  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL. 

Lancaster,  12th  Mo.,  13th,  1755. 
Thy  welfare  every  way  is  the  concern  of  my  mind, 
now  in  the  absence  of  thy  husband  more  particularly,  that 
thou  may  be  preserved  daily  in  that  which  above  all  things  will 
be  thy  wisdom,  strength,  comfort,  and  support,  both  in  spirit- 
uals and  temporals.  I  find  great  need  of  it  myself,  having  no 
other  help '  to  guide  and  instruct  me  in  the  proper  way  of  my 
duty,  that  I  may  make  straight  steps  in  my  goings,  both  before 
God  and  man ;  giving  no  occasion  of  just  offence  to  any  who 
may  watch  for  it ;  as  there  are  many  eyes  over  us  poor  preach- 
ers, some  for  good  and  some  otherwise  ;  but  truth  will  stand, 
over  all  the  clamour  and  wrath  of  man  ;  nay,  the  devil,  and  all 
his  instruments,  cannot  overthrow  it ;  the  foundation  stands 
sure,  and  the  Lord  knows  them  that  are  his,  and  will  plead  their 


228 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


cause  in  liis  own  lime  and  way.  But  we  have  need  of  patience, 
to  wait  that  time  ;  it  may  not  be  in  our  hasty  time,  for  our 
judgment  sometime  is  rash  ;  but  his  is  sure,  and  hngerelh  not 
but  for  some  good  end :  therefore,  let  us  ever  learn  to  submit 
all,  and  commit  our  cause  to  Him  who  is  just  in  all  his  ways; 
let  him  freely  dwell  in  our  hearts,  sway  his  sceptre,  and  do  his 
will ;  for  he  will  fight  the  battles  of  such.  I  do  not  know  why 
I  should  write  after  this  manner  ;  but  as  it  freely  comes,  so  it 
goes,  as  unto  a  bosom  friend,  who  is  no  stranger  to  those  suf- 
fering paths,  nor  to  that  Hand  of  power  which  workelh  deliver- 
ance ;  into  which  I  commit  thee,  wiih  my  own  soul. 

Lydia  Lancaster. 

According  to  the  eloquent  testimony  given  forth  concerning 
Lydia  Lancaster,  and  which  was  written  by  her  intimate  friend, 
Samuel  Fothergill,  she  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Doro- 
thy Rawlinson,  of  Graithwaite,  in  Lancashire,  both  of  them 
descended  from  honourable  families.  They  were  religiously 
concerned  to  instruct  their  children  in  the  Truth,  the  most  pre- 
cious of  all  blessings.  That  powerful  Hand  which  can  alone 
give  the  increase,  mercifully  extended  an  excellent  blessing  to 
several  of  their  children,  and  particularly  to  this  their  daughter; 
and,  as  it  opened  the  heart  of  Lydia  in  former  time,  opened  hers 
to  receive  the  heavenly  message. 

About  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  she  had  a  sense  of  its 
being  the  will  of  Providence  to  engage  her  in  the  ministerial 
service,  under  which  concern  she  continued  about  ten  years, 
growing  in  wisdom  and  experience,  that  she  might  come 
forth  in  the  right  time,  endued  with  proper  qualifications. 
In  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  her  age  she  appeared  in  a 
living,  powerful  testimony,  and  grew  therein.  The  blessed 
Author  of  all  spiritual  riches  having  abundantly  replenished 
her  with  the  treasures  of  his  kingdom,  she  soon  became  an 
able  dispenser  thereof  to  the  churches.    Li  this  cause  she 


iETAT.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


229 


visited  this  nation  several  times,  Ireland  and  Scotland  twice, 
also  the  continent  of  America. 

Her  ministry  was  living,  clear,  and  powerful ;  her  openings 
into  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  deep  and  instructive,  adapted 
to  the  state  of  those  amongst  whom  she  laboured  ;  close,  and  with 
authority  to  the  negligent  and  careless  :  yet  all  her  ministry  was 
attended  with  a  degree  of  that  love  and  tenderness  which  accom- 
panied her  Lord  and  Master,  who  "  came  to  seek  and  to  save 
that  which  was  lost." 

Great  was  her  growth  in  religious  experience,  even  to  the 
stability  of  salvation,  and  an  assurance  that  she  should  be  pre- 
served fronti  falling  ;  yet  accompanied  with  the  deepest  humility; 
a  filial  love,  which  casts  out  servile  fear,  was  the  covering  of 
her  spirit,  and  rested  almost  constantly  upon  her  for  several 
months  before  her  removal. 

She  died  at  Lancaster,  the  30lh  of  the  5lh  Month,  17(31,  aged 
78,  and  a  minister  about  53  years. 

As  she  lived,  so  she  died,  in  great  favour  both  with  God  and 
man,  full  of  days  and  full  of  peace. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Philadelphia,  12th  Mo.  17th,  1755. 

As  the  sure  mercies  of  our  Heavenly  Father  are  new 
every  morning,  conveying  along  with  them  renewed  obligations 
to  awful  worship,  and  some  degree  of  holy  ability  to  offer  it  to 
him,  and  to  make  mention  of  his  loving  kindness,  even  as  a  song 
in  the  night,  so  the  tender  connexions  of  nature,  the  stronger 
cement  of  friendship,  and  a  good  degree  of  the  deepest  alliance 
in  spiritual  affinity,  as  a  threefold  cord,  drawn  into  a  commu- 
nion and  conversation  which  I  hope  will  not  be  insipid  or  tedious. 
The  affectionate,  sympathizing  spirit  which  I  feel  to  run  through 
and  animate  thy  letters,  is  to  me  inexpressibly  pleasing.  I  re- 
joice that  I  have  a  very  affectionate  sister,  a  tender  friend,  and 
the  Heavenly  Husbandman  a  pleasant  plant,  united  in  one  per- 


230 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


son.  And  oh,  lliat  he  who  has  done  abundantly  more  for  us 
than  we  could  ask  or  expect,  may,  on  our  part,  be  so  reverently 
followed  and  served,  that  we  may  ever  know  him  near — to 
prune,  cultivate,  water,  and  replenish  to  greater  fruilfulness, 
and  a  happy  translation  at  last  to  the  banks  of  that  river  which 
proceeds  from  the  throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb. 

Through  the  continuance  of  Divine  help,  I  am  sustained  in 
ability  to  travel  ;  my  bodily  health  generally  very  well,  and 
spiritually  according  to  the  wise  proportion  of  His  wisdom,  who 
sends  not  his  servants  on  an  embassy  at  their  own  charge,  but 
furnisheth  meat,  drink,  and  apparel  out  of  his  inexhaustible 
magazine  ;  even  such  provisions  as  are  well  prepared,  and  such 
apparel  as  wears  not  out,  but  increaseth  in  lustre,  as  carefully 
watched,  and  often  washed,  until  they  acquire  a  meetness  to 
appear  in  before  the  throne  of  unmixed  Purity.  Oh  that  my 
heart  might  ever  feel  what  it  now  suggests,  through  all  the 
crooked,  intricate  mazes  of  this  wilderness  passage,  to  a  happy 
residence  beyond  danger. 

A  number  of  substantial  Friends  from  divers  parts  of  this  pro- 
vince having  appointed  a  meeting  for  conference  together,  in 
this  city,  and  requesting  my  meeting  them,  I  found  some  en- 
gagement of  mind  for  the  service.  Our  conference  continued, 
by  several  adjournments,  until  last  evening.  The  Friends  met 
are  generally  returned,  and  I  expected  to  go  away  to-morrow, 
but  feel  my  way  blocked  up,  and  an  engagement  of  mind  to 
remain  here,  though  I  see  not  for  what  end  ;  but  as  I  am  often 
led  in  ways  too  deep  for  my  penetration,  I  acquiesce  in  quiet- 
ness and  resignation  of  spirit. 

A  general  visit  to  all  the  meetings  (which  I  have  almost  per- 
fected) appears  not  to  be  the  whole  of  my  business  here  ;  one 
little  service  after  another,  and  not  in  the  character  of  a  minis- 
ter, hath  given  me  some  true  ease  ;  and  hope  to  be  helped  to 
such  a  degree  of  attention  to  the  great  Master's  requirings,  as 
to  know,  and  by  his  strength  perform,  his  will. 

S.  F. 


iETAT.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


231 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Philadelphia,  12th  Mo.,  17th,  1755. 

  Oh  that  our  residence  may  ever  be  in  that 

house  where  the  Feeder  dwells,  and  administers  wise  portions 
to  his  children,  even  bread  that  will  never  grow  mould)^, 
wine  that  is  well  refined,  and  garments  that  never  wear  out,  but 
increase  in  beauty  and  lustre  the  more  they  are  worn,  until  they 
are  meet  to  appear,  even  in  the  presence  of  unmixed  Purity, 
and  terrible  Glory. 

Through  the  continuance  of  Divine  favour,  I  am  still  helped, 
even  beyond  my  expectation,  and  supported  to  labour  every 
way  to  true  ease,  though  very  close  and  painful  service  falls  to 
my  lot,  in  doctrine  and  discipline.  The  week  before  last,  I  vi- 
sited all  the  monthly  meetings  in  a  neighbouring  county.  We 
met  at  ten  in  the  morning,  and  stayed  until  five  in  the  evening, 
without  breaking  up  or  refreshment,  for  five  days  successively, 
which  I  think  wore  me  more  than  any  service  I  have  had  in  this 
country ;  but  the  strong  Tower  of  the  righteous  was  near,  and 
supplied  with  inward  and  outward  health. 

I  am  preserved  from  a  painful  hankering  after  home,  being 
stayed  in  my  present  service  from  a  sure  sense  of  duty,  and  a 
painful  exercise.  My  whole  heart  is  engaged  to  follow  after 
the  things  which  make  for  true  peace  to  myself,  the  families' 
health,  and  the  renown  of  the  ever  worthy  Name,  who  hath  pre- 
served, and  by  his  own  hand  sustained,  to  look  towards  his  holy 
temple,  in  many  trials,  and  hath  never  failed.  Thou  knows  me  too 
well  to  think  I  loiter  away  time  ;  thy  affectionate,  repeated  hints, 
are  tokens  of  a  nearness  which  nature  suggests  not,  and  an  uni- 
ted spirit  with  me  in  this  labour;  and  mayst  thou  be  remember- 
ed in  thy  lonely  allotment  with  the  precious  dew  of  the  ever- 
lasting hills,  and  the  sweetness  of  that  peace  which  surpasses 
the  understanding  of  man. 

As  my  spirit  is  bound  to  the  testimony  here,    I  dare  not 


232 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755, 


attempt  to  hint  much  about  the  time  of  my  return  home.  I  hope 
to  return  when  I  ought,  and  to  come  sooner  would  not  be  to  the 
ease  or  comfort  of  either  of  us. 

The  consternation  in  which  this  province  hath  been  thrown 
by  the  Indians  is  not  diminished.  The  Assembly  have  sold 
their  testimony  as  Friends  to  the  people's  fears,  and  not  gone 
far  enough  to  satisfy  them;  the  Indians  have  complained,  with- 
out redress,  and  are  now  up  in  arms,  and  have  destroyed  many 
people  ;  there  were  the  bodies  of  two  men,  whom  the  Indians 
had  killed  andscalped,  brought  down  in  great  parade  to  this 
city,  from  the  back  parts  ;  multitudes  went  to  see  them,  and 
seem  loudly  to  clamour  for  war.  The  ancient  methods  of 
dealing  with  the  Indians  upon  the  principles  of  equity  and  jus- 
tice seem  neglected,  the  spirit  of  war  and  destruction  endea- 
vouring to  break  loose,  in  order  to  reduce  this  pleasant,  populous 
province  to  its  ancient  vv'ilderness  condition. 

Few,  very  few  there  are,  to  stand  in  the  gap,  and  spread 
innocent  hands  towards  the  holy  sanctuary,  in  intercession  for 
the  people  ;  too  many  under  our  name,  and  even  amongst  our 
professed  chiefs,  unsound  in  the  faith,  having  lost  their  habita- 
tion in  the  fold  of  rest,  are  looking  at,  and  calling  for,  the  arm 
of  flesh,  and  the  sword  to  defend  them. 

There  are,  nevertheless,  a  number  who  know  how  to  pray, 
and  where  to  flee.  Great  is  the  opposition  of  spirit  the  minis- 
ters of  the  Gospel  of  Peace  must  meet  with,  and  the  doctrine  of 
dependance  upon  the  arm  of  the  Lord  is  an  unknown  language 
to  many  ;  this  makes  it  very  hard  labour  to  divers,  to  endea- 
vour to  awaken  the  people  to  consider  their  ways. 

Wise,  faithful,  and  true  is  He  that  dwells  on  high,  and 
will  convince  all  people  that  he  rules  over  all  the  children 
of  men. 

S.  F. 


JSTAT.  40  ]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


233 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOSEPH  PROUD.* 

Philadelphia,  12th  Mo.,  20th,  1755. 

I  have  been  deeply  engaged  in  spirit,  and  very  close- 
ly employed  in  labour,  almost  incessantly,  since  I  parted  with 
thee,  and  so  closely  halh  my  mind  been  bomid  to  the  Testimony, 
and  my  measure  of  labour  in  it,  as  to  prevent  my  attention  to 
much  else  but  the  labour  of  the  present  day.  I  durst  not  allow 
much  scattering  of  mind,  even  where  the  ties  of  nature  were 
sacred  and  nearest.  I  hope  this  may  be  accepted  as  the  real 
cause  of  so  long  a  silence  ;  but  a  degree  of  true  nearness  draws 
my  attention  towards  thee,  thy  dear  wife  and  children,  accom- 
panied with  an  earnest  desire  for  your  preservation  and  sure 
building  up  in  the  Truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  that  your  care 
might  be  increased  to  look  forward  beyond  all  settlements  in 
profession,  and  the  outward  courts  of  the  temple,  to  that  durable 
foundation  and  tried  rock,  which  is  Jesus  Christ,  the  Lord  and 
giver  of  light  and  life.  Thereby  you  may  be  qualified  to  be 
useful  in  your  day ;  and,  being  gathered  up  into  the  peace  and 
rest  of  Mount  Zion,  may  say  to  your  children,  and  others,  by  a 
living  example,  "  Come  hither,  I  will  show  thee  the  bride,  the 
Lamb's  wife."  Great  is  the  want  of  such  in  your,  as  well  as 
other  parts  of  this  land ;  yet  I  am  fully  satisfied  the  Lord  of  sal- 
vation has  arisen  in  sundry  places,  to  raise  up  their  weak  hands. 
And  oh,  that  you  both  may  enough  feel  after  the  living,  cleans- 
ing stream,  which  would  more  evidently  beautify  and  make 
fruitful,  trees  his  own  right  hand  hath  planted,  that  obstructing 
things  might  be  more  and  more  removed. 

Thus  the  Lord  of  the  plantation  would  work  for  his  name's 
sake,  even  amongst  some  who  have  yet  had  little  fruit  upon 
them,  more  and  more  abounding  in  inward  and  outward  righte. 
ousness  to  the  Lord  and  his  family,  and  lead  gradually  to  a 

•  A  relation,  son  of  John  Proud,  of  Newport. 
31 


234 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1755. 


holy  meetness  to  be  at  last  fixed  upon  the  banks  of  that  river 
which  proceeds  from  the  throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb. 

Tlius,  in  true  earnestness  of  spirit,  my  soul  longs  for  you 
both,  that  the  enduring  riches  of  the  Spirit  of  everlasting  love 
and  life  may  fill  your  treasury,  and  an  increase  of  zeal  and  love 
towards  the  family  may  be  known,  wherein,  I  am  per- 
suaded, the  weight  and  burden  of  its  welfare  would  be 
more  felt,  and  a  concern  to  show  j'ourselves  on  the  Lord's  side, 
in  heavenly  conversation,  and  in  a  steady  care  for  the  cleansing 
of  the  camp,  lamentably  defiled  by  the  spirit  of  the  world  in 
your  island.  And  although  a  sense  of  your  own  weakness, 
and  the  difficulty  of  the  labour  may,  at  limes,  distressingly 
prevail,  yet  the  all-sufficient  Supply  of  all  would  show  him- 
self near,  and  endue  with  strength  to  labour  to  some  help  in 
general,  and  true  peace  in  your  own  individuals.  I  believe 
good  is  towards  you,  yours,  and  the  Lord's  family ;  and  the 
ancient  prophecy  seems  in  measure  accomplishing,  "  Thou 
"  shalt  arise  and  have  mercy  upon  Zion,  for  the  time  to  favour 
"  her,  yea,  the  set  time  is  come.  For  thy  servants  take  plea- 
"sure  in  her  stones,  and  favour  the  dust  thereof." 

Happy,  yea,  inexpressibly  happy,  will  be  the  portion  of 
the  truly  faithful,  who  devote  themselves  to  his  service  with 
upright  hearts.  The  excuses  of  weakness  are  not  available, 
as  the  strength  of  the  mighty  arm  of  God  will  be  revealed 
to  the  humble  seekers,  who  never  said  to  Jacob,  Seek  my 
face  in  vain. 

And,  dear  children,  in  true  love,  much  desired  and  longed 
for,  may  your  spirits  be  awfully  bowed  to  seek  true  riches, 
which  are,  I  am  persuaded,  at  times  offered  from  the  Lord 
to  your  acceptance,  and  can  alone  beautify  in  his  sight,  and 
in  your  own,  when  the  veil  will  be  rent,  and  things  appear  as 
they  really  are.  A  gradual  progress  towards  Zion,  from 
tender  years  to  such  a  state  as  the  Almighty  may  allot,  is 
the  most  secure  and  uniform,  is  more  free  from  the  depths 
of  distress  and  anguish,  than  where  negligence  and  folly 


JETAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGItL. 


235 


have  attended  their  inconsiderate  steps,  and  they  have  the 
sorrow  of  unlearning,  and  the  labour  of  learning,  in  more 
advanced  years.  Remember  vi^ith  love  and  fear  the  God  of 
your  lives,  in  the  days  of  your  youth,  that  in  the  multitude  of 
his  mercies  he  may  remember  you,  and  through  his  mercy  you 
may  be  set  as  a  seal  on  his  arm. 

Assure  yourselves  of  a  large  share  of  true  regard  with  your 
affectionate  friend  and  kinsman, 

S.  F 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  TIMOTHY  WATERHOUSE. 

Philadelphia,  12th  Mo.,  20lh,  1755. 
I  have  by  no  means  forgotten  thee,  thy  dear  Hannah, 
and  other  relations.  I  feel  all  the  tenderness  that  nature  requires, 
and  the  warmth  of  strong  desire  for  thy  prosperity  and  establish- 
ment in  that  blessed  Truth,  into  which  thy  feet  have  been 
measurably  turned  ;  and  oh  that  thou  mayest  ever  remember,  it 
is  the  followers  of  the  Lamb  that  shall  with  him  be  victorious. 
Many  have  known  the  arising  of  the  morning  star  in  their  hearts, 
and  by  the  brightness  thereof  have  been  convinced,  and  in  a 
degree  led  into  obedience  and  conformity,  yet  for  want  of  steady 
following  on  from  one  degree  of  faith  and  obedience  to  another, 
have  been  darkened  in  their  minds,  and  weak  in  their  steps,  and 
rather  by  some  crooked  by-path  turned  back  to  Egyptian  bond- 
age, than  advanced  forwards  to  that  land  of  liberty,  the  glimpses 
whereof  have  in  time  past  been  so  precious,  that  they  have  ac- 
counted all  other  things  but  as  dross  and  of  no  value  in  com- 
parison with  it. 

The  retaining  in  our  remembrance  the  joys  of  our  morning, 
and  what  was  once  done  for  us,  hath  prevailed  at  times  as 
principal  riches,  whereby  the  daily  sacrifice  hath  been 
neglected,  the  feeling  after  living  virtue  stifled,  and  religion 
gradually  left  the  heart,  the  poor  soul  contenting  itself  with 
notions  and  conclusions  it  once  saw  in  the  light  of  life, 
without  waiting  for  daily  renewings.    Thus  form  is  substituted 


236 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


instead  of  power ;  the  head  enriched  ;  but,  alas  !  the  soul  and 
spirit  returned  or  returning  to  their  common  centre,  heretofore 
in  a  good  degree  crucified  by  the  Holy  Power,  regain  life  and 
strength,  and,  under  a  varied  form,  lead  into  alienation  from  God. 

Unexpectedly,  and  unsought  for,  have  these  remarks  dropt 
from  my  pen,  under  a  good  degree  of  nearness  of  spirit  to 
the  Great  Councillor,  and  perhaps  not  void  of  instruction  to 
thee  in  thy  present  state ;  and  oh,  saith  my  soul,  that  thy  morning 
light  may  ever  remain  new  and  clear,  that  sufiering  distress,  and 
troubles  on  thy  convincement,  may  not  be  rendered  void  of  use, 
and  laid  waste  by  the  unfaithfulness  of  maturer  age.  Have  a 
care  of  the  world,  and  its  spirit ;  its  friendships  are  enmity 
with,  and  destructive,  of  that  lamb-hke,  innocent  life  which 
inherits  all  things ;  let  not  thy  mind  be  encumbered  with  posts 
or  places  in  the  government ;  they  are  not  for  thee  ;  stand  out 
of  them  all,  in  the  ranks  of  the  Lord's  army ;  and  thus,  I  am 
persuaded,  the  Lord  would  bless  thee,  and  others  through  thee. 
But  if  this  refining  hand,  and  chastity  of  mind,  be  not  rightly 
sought  after,  and  patiently  abode  under,  I  fear  thy  day  will  be 
overcast  with  clouds,  and  perhaps  scarce  strength  left  to  with- 
stand even  evident  pollution. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL  TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

At  Joshua  Pusey's,  12th  Mo.,  1755, 
It  is  no  small  favour,  amongst  many  others,  to  me, 
in  my  pilgrimage  through  this  land,  that  I  feel  the  invisible 
cord  which  binds  up  the  bundle  of  spikenard,  and  find 
myself  at  times  within  it,  though  a  favour  not  at  all  times 
attainable  by  me.  I  am  often  scattered,  and  in  an  anxious 
solicitude,  whether  I  am  meet  for  such  a  fellowship ;  and 
this  is  well,  in  bringing  more  close  search  after  the  cause 
of  obstruction ;  which  my  soul  desires  may  be  removed  by 
the  spirit  of  judgment  and  of  burning.  I  have  rejoiced  at 
times  in  the  sense  of  this  fellowship,  in  which  I  have 


^TAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


237 


desired  my  lot  might  be  cast  for  ever  ;  and  though  many  bitter 
and  unpalatable  fruits  grow  in  this  land,  yet  there  is  a  garden 
which  produces  apples  of  gold,  and  our  Master  has  set  a  slip 
of  this  tree  at  Nottingham.  May  his  dew  rest  upon  its  branches, 
and  former  and  latter  rain  render  it  ever  fruitful,  and  its 
branches  spread  over  all  opposing  things,  and  poor  I,  favoured, 
now  and  then,  with  a  dish  of  its  fruit. 

This  friendship  thou  hast  vouchsafed  to  admit  me  to  has 
done  me  good,  and  I  hope  will  contuiue  beneficial,  in  e.xciting 
to  diligence  to  be  what  I  know  thou  wishes  for  me  ;  and  in  the 
progression  of  that  regard,  let  thy  knife  as  well  as  thy  cruse  of 
oil  be  upon  me. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEMBEREON. 

Wilmington,  1st  Mo.,  12th,  1756. 

Thou  hast  been  so  much  the  companion  of  my  thoughts 
since  I  saw  thee,  that  I  can  hardly  forbear  telling  thee  so, 
though  I  have  little  else  at  present  before  me  to  communicate  ; 
only  this  I  may  say,  my  spirit  is,  and  hath  been,  frequently 
touched  with  near  sympathy  with  thee,  and  strong  desires  for 
thy  succour  in  the  various  exercises  of  thy  pilgrimage  ;  for  I 
believe  thee  secretly  and  strongly  affected  by  them,  though  out- 
wardly favoured  with  many  agreeable  enjoyments  of  life. 

And,  indeed,  unspeakably  wise  is  the  conduct  of  our  Hea- 
venly Father  towards  his  children,  though  we  may  at  times 
injudiciously  repine  when  some  of  his  choicest  blessings  are 
handed  out,  under  the  form  of  adversity.  He  knows  our 
frame  ;  past,  present,  and  to  come  are  one  in  his  view,  and  his 
wisdom  directs  their  several  contingencies  to  our  profit.  Afflic- 
tions, when  they  arise  from  real,  allowable  causes,  are  at  times 
made  useful,  in  renewing  diligent  labour  after  sacred  relief ; 
and  truly  profitable  inquiries,  Is  there  not  a  cause  ?  have  often 


238 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


issued  in  such  discoveries  as  could  scarce  have  been  expected, 
nor  vv^ould  have  been  received,  in  any  other  school. 

Here  is  the  faith  and  patience  of  the  saints  exercised,  and 
rewarded  in  His  time  and  way,  who  slumbereth  not  in  the 
darkest  night  of  probation,  but  Immanuel  is  his  holy  attribute 
for  ever. 

My  spirit  strongly  begs  every  dispensation  of  our  Heavenly 
Father's  good  pleasure  may  be  effectually  blessed,  in  our  obe- 
dience ,to  our  help;  and  I  am  abundantly  satisfied  his  hand  is 
towards  thee  for  good ;  and  comfortable  hope  arises  in  my 
heart,  thy  day  is  near  to  break  forth  more  pleasantly  ;  and  the 
cloud  which  may  perhaps  have  been  on  thy  tabernacle  will  be 
taken  up,  as  a  signal  for  thy  progress. 

S.  F. 

ISRAEL  PEMBERTON  TO  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  1st  Mo.,  15th,  1756. 

The  benefit  and  satisfaction  I  have  enjoyed  from  the 
conversation  and  friendship  of  thy  valuable  husband,  have  inte- 
rested me  in  those  near  friends  whom  he  hath  left  behind. 

I  feel  assured  of  thy  partaking  sensibly  of  that  reward  which 
Infinite  Wisdom  and  Goodness  graciously  affords  to  such  who 
deny  themselves  of  the  most  precious  enjoyments,  in  the  dis- 
charge of  those  duties  enjoined  by  the  wise  dispensations  of  hia 
providence,  for  the  benefit  of  their  fellow  mortals. 

The  many  excellent  qualifications  thy  dear  spouse  is 
favoured  with,  being,  with  a  steady  devotion  of  heart,  em- 
ployed in  the  cause  and  service  of  the  bounteous  author 
of  them,  are  so  signally  rendered  serviceable  to  us,  in  these 
parts  of  the  world,  by  the  renewed  supplies  of  Divine  instruc- 
tion and  strength,  daily  extended  to  him,  that  many  have 
cause  reverently  to  acknowledge  the  condescension  of  Divine 
regard,  in  sending  him  among  us  in  a  time  of  great  difficulty, 


^TAT.  40.]  OF   SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


239 


when  every  help,  mediate  and  immediate,  is  necessary  :  and  I 
hope  in  due  time,  when  his  service  here  is  over,  the  prospect  of 
which  does  not  yet  seem  near  in  view,  he  will  be  safely  restored 
to  thee,  full  of  the  most  perfect  tranquillity,  peace,  and  true  joy, 
to  your  mutual  consolation. 

Israel  Pemberton.  , 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

East  Nottingham,  Pennsylvania,  1st  Mo.,  19th,  1756. 

Though  I  have  nothing  to  boast  of,  as  signal  fruits 
of  my  close  labour  to  others,  yet  the  peaceable  fruits  of  honest 
obedience  are  an  abundant  compensation,  and  spread  a  table  in 
the  desert,  at  times,  that  is  more  worth  than  that  the  devils  are 
cast  out,  and  that  I  tread  on  serpents  ;  the  sweet  evidence  of  a 
name  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life,  is  the  sum  and  substance  of 
all.  I  mention  it  with  reverence  ;  not  as  though  I  had  already 
fully  apprehended,  but  as  a  mark  which  is  to  be  arrived  at  by 
faith  and  obedience.  Oh,  that  it  may  ever  be  the  chief  object  of 
our  endeavours,  with  united  diligence  and  care,  that  we  may  go 
up  hand  in  hand  to  Mount  Zion,  the  Heavenly  Jerusalem,  where 
those  who  overcome  inherit  all  things. 

And  although  painful  baptisms,  and  times  of  great  inward 
distress,  continue  at  times  my  lot,  yet  I  am  helped  to  be  com- 
fortably easy  and  resigned,  being  sensible  they  are  necessary 
for  my  own  cleansing,  and  right  qualification  to  minister  to 
others  in  their  various  states,  and  suitable  ballast  for  those  times 
of  more  sensible  manifestations  of  the  Holy  Countenance  ;  for 
such,  even  to  a  glorious  degree,  are  at  times  vouchsafed,  but 
they  are  the  festival  days  of  Zion,  and  only  come  in  the  wise 
appointment  of  the  king  and  ruler  of  that  heavenly  city. 

I  know  thy  heart  is  as  mine,  and  thy  desires  strong  that  my 
return  may  be  in  true  peace,  and  hope  we  shall  both  be  pre- 
served from  repining  at  the  disposal  of  that  Hand  from  whence 
a  multitude  of  unmerited  mercies  have  proceeded.  The  present 


240 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


state  of  this  province  is  very  distressing  ;  the  Indians,  very 
cruel  and  bloody,  destroying  men,  women,  and  children,  and 
burning  their  houses  ;  which  hath  occasioned  great  trouble,  and 
raised  the  clamour  of  the  people  against  Friends,  who  dare  not 
resist  violence  with  violence.  Yet  too  few  lay  it  properly  to 
heart,  and  learn  righteousness.  A  choice  seed  there  is,  who 
spread  innocent,  interceding  hands  towards  the  holy  temple, 
with  which  my  very  soul  is  united,  and  that  seems  likely  to 
detain  me  longer  amongst  them  than  otherwise  I  might  be. 

The  ingratitude  of  many  to  a  merciful  benefactor,  their 
worldly-mindedness  and  forgetfulness  of  the  Lord  God  of  their 
fathers,  is  cause  of  awful  alarm  from  him  who  justly  challengeth 
the  love  and  obedience  of  all  flesh,  and  will  get  himself  a  name 
in  the  earth,  in  mercy  or  judgment,  and  be  heard  by  all  flesh. 
Oh  that  this  people  were  wise,  and  knew  this. 

The  assembly  here  have  passed  a  law  imposing  a  tax  upon 
the  inhabitants  of  this  province  ;  and  as  a  great  part  of  the  money 
is  to  be  laid  out  for  military  purposes,  many  solid  Friends  can- 
not pay  it,  which  is  likely  to  bring  such  a  breach  and  division 
as  never  happened  amongst  us  since  we  were  a  people  ;  may  it 
it  be  finally  conducive  to  the  glory  of  the  ever  worthy  Name, 
if  it  issue  in  the  winnowing  of  the  people. 

I  still  continue  very  healthy  for  the  most  part,  though  I  have 
travelled  and  spent  myself  as  much  as  most,  having  travelled 
7,000  miles  in  this  country.  The  winter  proving  favourable, 
thus  far  I  have  not  been  willing  to  lie  by,  but  intend  two  days 
entire  rest  here,  which  is  more  than  I  have  had  at  one  time  for 
some'  months. 

S.  F. 


^TAT.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


241 


LYDIA  LANCASTER  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Lancaster,  2d  Mo.,  10th,  1756. 

In  the  pure  fellowsliip  of  the  Gospel  of  peace,  my 
soul  nearly  salutes  thee  ;  having  thee  daily  in  remembrance^ 
and,  according  to  my  measure,  travailing  in  spirit  and  sympa- 
thizing with  thee  in  thy  painful  and  laborious  service,  and  under 
thy  many  heavy  burdens,  which,  though  great,  will,  I  doubt  not, 
be  sweetened  to  thee,  and  beneficial  to  many.  1  pray  in  my 
soul  thou  may  not  faint  in  thy  mind,  nor  be  weary  in  well  doing 
thy  duty,  according  to  Divine  manifestation  ;  for  whether  the 
people  will  all  hear  or  forbear,  thou,  and  all  the  faithful,  shall 
reap  in  due  time,  not  sorrow  and  perplexity,  but  glory,  honour, 
and  peace. 

O,  my  truly  beloved  friend,  whom  the  great  Lord  of  the  har- 
vest hath  sent,  as  a  cloud  full  of  rain,  into  that  wilderness  country, 
I  beg  thou  may  be  enabled  every  way  to  quit  thyself  fully,  by 
discharging  thy  trust  honestly,  that  when  it  is  thy  time  to  return, 
it  may  be  with  pure  clearness,  and  lasting  comfort ;  yea,  and 
I  believe  it  will  be  so.  I  am  extremely  obliged  to  thee  for 
writing  so  plain,  free,  and  informing  a  letter  as  thy  last  to  me 
was  ;  indeed,  I  prize  it  mucli.  I  now  send  tliee  a  renewed 
token  of  that  love  which  neither  time  nor  distance  can  diminish ; 
for  I  feel  the  length  and  strength  of  it  to  increase,  and  rejoice 
in  my  heart,  with  a  spring  of  praises,  to  the  Fountain  and  Au- 
thor of  our  mercies,  whose  presence  attends  his  depending  chil- 
dren all  the  world  over,  under  their  various  afflictions  and  trials. 
Great  cause  have  we  humbly  to  trust  in  Him,  in  a  daily,  patient 
waiting  upon  him  to  know  his  pure  will ;  and  such  have  cause 
many  times  to  rejoice  in  his  salvation. 

As  to  the  state  of  affairs  in  America,  I  do  not  think  myself  a 

proper  judge  ;  but  think  our  people  had  better  have  quitted  their 

places  in  the  assembly,  as  the  world  is  circumstanced.  They 

are  in  a  strait  and  very  difficult  station  :  I  see  not  how  Friends 
32 


242 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


can  faithfully  bear  up  the  ancient  testimony,  without  being 
loudly  cried  against ;  wherefore,  if  they  could  be  free  to  resign 
and  live  in  peace  and  quietness,  minding  their  own  business 
as  Friends  do  everywhere  else,  seems  to  me  most  agreeable  ; 
as  I  wrote  to  thee  once  before,  so  shall  leave  it ;  and  let  thee 
know  I  had  a  late  letter  from  Edmund  Peckover,  giving  account 
of  an  extraordinary  visitation  from  on  high,  extended  to  the 
people  at  Norwich.  In  two  years  time  are  come  forth  in  pub- 
lic testimony  to  the  number  of  ten,  all  well  approved  ;  among 
whom  is  E.  G.  from  a  state  of  mind  far  from  agreeable,  is  re- 
duced to  the  greatest  humility,  and  as  a  weaned  child,  is  in 
much  self-abasement  and  abhorrence.  He  appears  in  their  great 
meetings,  to  the  satisfaction  and  joy  of  Friends,  and  agreeable 
surprise  of  every  body  ;  and  that  there  is  such  an  open  door  of 
convincement,  that  he  thinks  it  may  be  said  there  are  almost 
daily  some  added  to  the  faith. 

As  to  the  times  outwardly,  things  look  very  threatening,  and 
I  expect  a  war  with  the  French  this  ensuing  spring  and  summer. 
May  it  please  the  King  of  kings  to  defend  and  protect  us  by 
his  Almighty  power,  as  I  have  reason  to  hope  he  will,  (all  those 
who  are  really  his,)  yet  I  believe  it  will  be  a  time  of  such  ca- 
lamity as  this  our  native  land  never  knew  ;  and  yet  there  is  a 
secret  hope  in  me  that  it  will  all  work  together  for  good,  to 
those  who  truly  love  God,  and  labour  for  Zion's  prosperity,  and 
the  enlargement  of  her  borders.  There  is  a  tender  visitation  to 
many  of  the  youth  in  this  nation ;  and  I  believe  the  time  that 
is  approaching  will  shake,  sift,  and  loosen  the  worldlings  from 
their  too  eager  pursuit  and  love  of  what  will  be  found  in  a  tot- 
tering condition  ;  that  they  must  either  fasten  close  to  the  ancient 
foundation,  or  else  fall ;  nay,  I  hope  many  will  be  awakened 
to  righteousness,  and  have  more  room  for  religious  consider- 
ation than  heretofore  ;  for  it  hath  long  been  a  dull,  drowsy 
time,  and  little  more  witnessed  than  the  name  of  religion  ; 
but  the  great  God  is  jealous  of  his  honour  and  will  not  be 
mocked.    Deep  and  ponderous  have  the  meditations  of  my 


iETAT.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHEKGILL.  243 

heart  been  for  months  past,  and  much  satisfaction  from  the 
Lord  has  been  met  with. 

I  now  conckide,  with  a  heart  more  furnished  with  crystal 
streams  of  love  and  pure  prayers  than  pen  and  language  can 
set  forth ;  wherein  I  remain  thy  true  and  faithful  friend,  sister, 
and  companion  in  the  suflferings  of  Jesus,  and  joy  of  our  Lord 
according  to  my  measure, 

Lydia  Lancaster. 


SAMUKL  FOTHERGILL  TO  COMFORT  HOAG, 
(AFTERWARDS  COMFORT  COLLINS.*) 

New  York,  2d  Mo.,  12th,  1756. 

In  a  degree  of  that  love  wherewith  our  Heavenly 
Father  hath  loved  us,  and  sought  us  out  when  our  feet  were 
turned  from  the  paths  of  peace,  I  affectionately  salute  thee ; 

*  This  Friend  resided  in  New  England,  and  attained  to  a  great  age. 
The  following  account  of  her  is  taken  from  a  letter  written  in  8th  Month, 
1812,  by  Matthew  Franklin: — "We  called  to  see  Comfort  Collins,  aged 
111  years  and  eight  months.  A  more  interesting  and  precious  opportunity 
I  never  remember-  All  her  faculties  have,  in  a  measure,  fled,  save  her  re- 
ligious sensibility  :  she  has  no  sort  of  recollection  that  she  ever  had  either 
husband  or  children,  or  houses,  or  lands,  nor  of  her  nearest  friends  even 
when  named  ;  yet  her  sense  of  Divine  good,  and  the  religious  fervour  of 
her  mind,  are  unabated. 

"  We  stayed  about  an  hour,  the  whole  of  which  time  she  was  engaged 
in  praising  her  Maker,  in  exhorting  us  to  love  the  Lord,  and  to  lay  up 
treasure  in  the  heavens ;  several  times  saying,  '  One  hour  in  his  presence 
is  better  than  a  thousand  elsewhere  :  I  know  it,  friends,  I  know  it  from 
experience,'  and  then  her  voice  would  seem  to  die  away  in  a  kind  of  melo- 
dy ;  and  after  being  still  a  few  moments,  she  would  again  lift  up  her  voice 
with  much  sweetness  in  praising  the  Lord,  and  advising  us  to  love  and  fear 
him ;  and  looking  round  upon  us  said,  '  I  love  you,  dear  friends,  though 
you  are  strangers  to  me  ;  for  I  love  them  that  love  the  Lord,  blessed 
be  his  name !' 

"  The  whole  company  were  in  tears  whilst  we  stayed.  The  remem- 
brance of  this  season  is  not  off  my  mind ;  nor,  I  hope,  ever  will  be, 


I 


244  MEMOIRS  AND  lETTEKS  '  [1756. 

earnestly  desiring  thy  preservation  and  establishment,  that  nei- 
ther heights  nor  depths  may  remove  thee  from  the  safe  abiding 
of  the  faithful.  Various  arc  the  trials,  and  manifold  the  afflic- 
tions, a  remnant  have  to  pass  through  in  their  journey  towards 
Zion ;  some  more  manifest  than  others  ;  some  within,  some 
without,  and  some  both.  But  here  is  the  faith  and  patience  of 
the  saints,  that  nothing  may  move  them  from  their  trust;  and 
these  pi'esent  afflictions  may  work  for  us  a  more  exceeding 
weight  of  glory.  Large  hath  been  thy  share  in  probations  and 
trouble  ;  but  He  who  led  Israel  through  Jordan,  and  command- 
ed her  waters  to  stand  as  walls  on  each  hand,  hath  an 
everlasting  name  in  his  family,  and  will  be  his  poor  children's 
guide  through  Jordan's  waves  and  depths,  and  establish  on  the 
firm  land  of  salvation,  as  humbly  followed  and  trusted  in ;  and 
when  their  hearts  may  be  overwhelmed,  will  lead  to  a  rock 
which  is  higher  than  they.  It  behooves  us,  dear  friend,  in  or- 
der to  share  so  great  salvation,  to  be  obedient  children  of  our 
Heavenly  Father,  to  wail  for  his  counsel,  and  the  renewing  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  to  purge  and  redeem,  that  we  may  have  a 
claim  as  children,  to  the  Father's  promise,  "  I  will  never  leave 
thee  nor  forsake  thee." 

With  respect  to  myself,  I  am  mercifully  sustained  in 
health  and  ability  to  proceed  with  diligence  in  the  Heavenly 
Master's  employment.  I  thoroughly  visited  Chester  county  ; 
performed  a  second  visit,  to  my  great  satisfaction,  to  the 
western  shore  of  Maryland,  and  through  the  Jerseys,  to  this 
city.  I  stand  ready  to  go  any  where  that  truth  leads  and 
light  shines  ;  but  think  I  am  near  clear  of  this  land ;  and 
have  this  evidence — I  have,  in  my  measure,  laboured  faith- 
fully. I  have  seldom  known  a  greater  share  of  the  word  of 
life  than  hath  attended  in  this  journey  from  Philadelphia 

while  memory  remains ;  for  I  think  that  she  and  Mary  Griffin  are  two 
most  memorable  instances  of  the  reality  and  rectitude  of  the  principles 
of  spiritual  light  and  life." 

The  time  of  her  decease  has  not  been  ascertained. 


1 


XTXT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  P0THER6ILL. 


245 


hither,  which  hath  been  about  three  weeks  ;  nor  more  frequent 
scarcity  of  bread  out  of  meetings,  so  that  I  have  been  ready  to 
say,  notwithstanding  all  my  labours,  "  I  am  cast  out  of  thy 
sight,  oh  Lord,  and  in  sorrow  sought  my  beloved,  and  for  times 
could  not  find  him."  But  I  believe  his  pitying  eye  and  gra- 
cious ear  are  open  for  good  towards  Zion's  dust,  and  his  arm 
invisibly  near  when  our  heads  are  overwhelmed  by  the  waters 
of  bitterness.  My  dear  love  in  the  unchangeable  covenant  of 
life  salutes  the  living  amongst  Friends  thereaway.  May  the 
mighty  God  of  Jacob  preserve  in  holy,  humble  waiting,  and 
sustain  to  his  own  praise,  and  keep  in  his  own  meekness,  wis- 
dom, and  purity,  that  in  days  of  mourning  and  lamentation  for 
the  slain  and  dying,  this  land  may  have  to  spread  innocent 
hands  towards  the  holy  throne,  that  he  may  spare  his  people, 
and  that  they  may  never  be  a  prey  to  the  Gentiles,  neither 
inwardly  nor  outwardly.    So  be  it,  0  Lord  God  ! 

I  am,  with  the  salutation  of  true  love,  thy  friend  and 
brother  in  the  faith,  patience,  tribulation,  and  victory  of  the 
gospel, 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  2d  Mo.,  20th,  1756. 
Although  a  variety  of  painful  exercising  steps  are  in 
the  way  of  my  duty  and  labour,  yet  all-sufficiency  is  one  of  the 
attributes  of  our  Heavenly  Father  ;  and  each  of  them  is  very 
deeply  significant.  It  is  and  has  been  cause  of  profitable  hum- 
bling to  my  soul,  that  sure  mercy  has  so  signally  attended  every 
way ;  I  know  it  is  for  his  own  name's  sake,  and  his  people's 
sake  ;  and  may  the  praise  and  reverence  due,  forever  arise  lo 
him  alone,  undiminished  from  me,  for  I  am  not  worthy  of  his  so 
great  condescension.  Neither,  indeed,  are  the  professors  of  his 
pure  truth  ;  and  that,  I  hope,  some  of  them  are  awakened  pro- 
fitably to  consider,  and  have  their  hearts  stirred  up  to  apply  for 
help  to  more  fruitfulness  and  diligent  care  after  true  support, 


246 


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[1756. 


though  of  too  many  my  hope  is  low.  I  well  know  the  sacred 
ear  is  not  heavy,  but  where  no  sound  or  voice  of  supplication  is 
uttered,  it  is  not  within  the  limits  of  Omnipotence  to  hear. 

Oh  that  we,  who  have  tasted  that  He  is  good,  may  never 
forget  him,  nor  allow  our  palate  to  be  vitiated  by  that  which 
OLir  present  and  future  experience  will  evince  is  not  bread  ; 
the  artificial,  imaginary  dainties  of  this  world's'  riches,  ho- 
nours, and  friendship,  have  too  often  been  an  ensnaring  ban- 
quet, to  which  even  some  of  Zion's  sons  have  sat  down, 
tasted,  and  forgot  their  proper  aliment.  But  this  thou  knows  ; 
and  may  thou  ever  be  guarded,  in  the  proper  exercise  of 
thy  senses,  and  thereby  preserved  healthy,  and  strong,  and 
meet  for  that  service,  which  is  of  infinite  importance  and 
everlasting  duration. 

I  wrote  to  thee  from  West-river,  in  Maryland.  I  finished 
my  second  visit  to  that  shore,  and  was  enabled  to  leave  it  with 
great  peace,  obtained  through  painful,  faithful  labour.  I  re- 
turned to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Concord,  for  Chester  county, 
having  travelled  very  hard  ;  and  was  enabled,  through  merciful 
help,  to  clear  myself  of  that  part  of  the  province  to  great  satis- 
faction ;  the  name  of  the  Lord  was  gloriously  high  amongst  us, 
to  the  melting  many  of  our  spirits  as  into  one  heavenly  lump. 
I  came  here  on  the  1 1th,  and  have  not  been  a  day  unemployed  ; 
and  have  been  favoured  with  some  truly  good  meetings  in  this 
city. 

The  circumstances  of  this  province  still  continue  fluctu- 
ating and  unpleasant.  Many  thousand  pounds  of  the  pro- 
vince's money,  have,  by  the  Assembly's  committee,  been 
laid  out  in  erecting  forts  upon  the  frontiers,  and  placing 
men  in  them ;  a  step  as  prudent,  and  likely  to  be  attended 
with  as  much  success,  as  an  attempt  to  hedge  out  birds  or 
the  deer.  The  neighbourhoods  of  those  forts  have  been, 
since  their  being  erected,  the  scenes  of  the  greatest  barbarity  ; 
in  contempt  and  mockery  of  the  attempt,  eleven  people 
being  destroyed  a  few  days  ago  within  a  mile  of  one  of  their 


^TAT.  40. 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


247 


forts.  Fresh  matter  of  contest  hath  presented  between  the 
Assembly  and  the  Governor.  The  recruiting  officers  having 
enhsted  the  servants  of  the  inhabitants,  they  have  many  of  them 
no  means  of  following  their  several  employments ;  a  great 
number  will  be  ruined,  and  a  greater  still  exceedingly  preju- 
diced ;  the  Assembly  have  addressed  the  Governor  respectfully, 
but  received  an  evasive  answer.  I  so  fully  concurred  with  thy 
sentiments  before  thou  imparted  them,  about  the  pointed  style 
of  the  Assembly's  reply  to  the  Governor,  as  to  improve  every 
opportunity  I  could  meet  with,  to  impress  the  necessity  of 
decency  and  due  respect  upon  such  of  the  Assembly  as  I  could 
propose  to  myself  to  be  likely  to  have  any  influence  upon,  with 
the  manifest  inconsistency  of  every  inflaming  step,  with  their 
interest,  and  with  their  religious  profession.  I  found  many 
pained  about  it,  and  sensible  it  is  wrong.  It  it  is  altogether 
imputed  to  B.  Franklin,  their  principal  penman  ;  who,  I  have 
some  times  thought,  intended  to  render  the  Assembly  contemp- 
tible, and  subject  our  religious  society  to  the  imputation  of  want 
of  respect  to  authority,  as  a  factious  sort  of  people  ;  and  I  fear  he 
has  gained  his  point.  But  as  the  uneasiness  of  the  minds  of 
many  in  the  Assembly  with  such  language  increases,  I  believe 
they  will  for  the  future  be  more  guarded. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO    MARY  JORDAN.* 

Upper  Springfield,  3d  Mo.,  5th,  1756. 

If  I  have  not,  when  personally  conversant  with 
thee,  given  thee  proofs  of  a  real  affectionate  sympathy  in 

♦  She  was  the  daughter  of  Mary  Pemberton,  and  her  former  husband, 
Robert  Jordan.  Her  mother,  in  an  affecting  account  which  she  wrote  con- 
cerning her,  says — "  She  was  one  whom  the  Lord  had  favoured  with  a 
good  natural  capacity,  and  having  his  holy  fear  implanted  in  her  heart, 
she  found  it  to  be  true  wisdom  ;  her  deportment  was  grave  and  solid  ;  her 
words  were  few  and  saToury,  manifesting  a  lively  sense  of  religion,  even 


248 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


thy  present  afflicting  circumstances,  thou  mayest  be  assured  it 
has  not  been  the  effect  of  disregard,  or  occasioned  by  the  want 
of  that  sensibihty  of  others'  distress  which  nature  and  principle 
have  deeply  fixed  in  my  mind. 

A  continued  chain  of  important  reflections  relative  to  the 
whole,  may  have  often  diverted  my  attention  from  particulars, 
though  not  from  ihee  ;  and,  indeed,  I  have  found  it  expedient, 
as  much  as  I  could,  to  avoid  much  dissipation  of  mind,  that  I 
might  stand  more  collected  for  the  labour  of  the  day. 

But  I  have  ever  desired  the  favour  of  a  mind  susceptible  of 
others'  distress ;  and  chosen  from  the  school  of  affliction  to 
receive  the  tongue  of  the  learned  therein,  to  speak  a  word  in 
due  season  to  the  weary  and  pained.  That  afflictions  of  body 
or  mind  are  not  joyous,  for  the  present,  to  nature,  is  a  truth 
abundantly  confessed,  yet  that  they  are  often  sanctified  to  work 
a  more  exceeding  weight  of  glory,  hath  been  fulfilled  in  the 
happy  experience  of  multitudes. 

The  afflictions  incident  to  these  tabernacles  of  clay  have  often 
a  painful  effect  upon  the  mind,  the  weight  of  them  sometimes 
raises  distressing  reflections,  and  prevents  our  attention  to  the 
sole,  suitable  relief;  and  when  the  Lord  of  our  life  intends  wise 
instruction,  disquietude  and  secret  repining  induces  the  despond- 
ing mind  to  increase  its  perturbation,  by  a  fear  that  we  are  cast 
out  of  the  notice  of  the  Heavenly  Father,  forsaken  of  God,  and 
therefore  afflicted. 

Hereby  we  are  prompted  to  wrest  the  inscriptions  Heaven 
has  written  upon  all  his  messengers,  whether  sickness  or 
health,  sorrow  or  joy,  and  are  in  danger  of  defeating  the 
end  of  their  being  sent.  What  more  particularly  endangers 
our  misconstruction  of  the  message  of  sickness  and  distress, 
is  its  being  sent  in  the  time  of  sprightly,  blooming  youth, 

from  her  very  young  years."  Her  illness  was  lingering,  through  which 
she  was  preserved  in  great  patience,  and  uttered  many  tender  and  affecting 
expressions.  She  died  on  the  21st  of  10th  Month,  1759,  in  the  twentieth 
year  of  her  age. 


I 


^TAT.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  249 

when  the  gayer,  easier  scenes  are  most  likely,  and  more  eligi- 
ble ;  advanced  years  submit  to  it  of  course,  but  youth  by  force. 
The  language  of  Hezekiah  upon  such  an  occasion  is  very  na- 
tural, and  the  result  of  most  minds  in  parallel  circumstances  ; 
"  I  said,  in  the  cutting  off  of  my  days,  I  shall  go  to  the  gates 
of  the  grave,  I  am  deprived  of  the  residue  of  my  years."  Not 
only  the  gloomy  prospect  of  nature's  decay,  and  the  dissolution 
of  the  body,  affected  his  mind,  but  a  painful  solicitude  about  an 
hereafter  aggravated  his  sorrow,  even  the  fear  of  an  exclusion 
from  future  joy  ;  "  I  said  I  shall  not  see  the  Lord,  even  the 
Lord,  in  the  land  of  the  living." 

Peradventure,  dear  Mary,  disquieting  sentiments  from  both 
these  awful  reflections  may  at  times  have  supplied  hours  of  anx- 
iety ;  and  a  combination  of  real  causes  of  complaint,  aggravated 
by  the  anticipation  of  those  suggested  by  fear,  may  have  fur- 
nished thee  with  a  variety  of  fears  ;  and  the  vigilant  accuser  of 
the  brethren  improved  the  opportunity  at  limes  to  cast  down 
below  the  proper  place. 

What  may  conduce  to  remove  the  whole  cause  is  not  in  my 
power  to  prescribe,  but  an  affectionate  regard  may  suggest ; 
and  T  would  hint  moderate  exercise  as  often  as  thou  canst ;  the 
approaching  season  invites,  and  the  tender  indulgence  of  affec- 
tionate parents  will  often  furnish  thee  with  the  means  ;  endeavour 
to  exert  thyself,  and  let  not  an  apprehension  of  inability  render 
thee  incapable  of  contributing  all  in  thy  power  to  thy  restora- 
tion to  health  ;  this,  I  believe,  would  tend  to  thy  advantage,  and 
repair  the  breach  in  thy  constitution,  a  state  of  inaction  may 
have  occasioned  ;  not  only  thy  own  advantage  requires  it,  but  I 
believe  it  would  happily  tend  to  the  comfort  of  an  affectionate, 
worthy  parent,  whose  mind  hath  been  exceedingly  depressed  by 
affliction  for  her  dear  children's  sake  ;  thy  indisposition,  which 
thou  could  not  prevent,  and  also  thy  poor  brother's,  having,  at 
times,  been  as  much  as  she  could  bear,  and  indeed  insupporta- 
ble, if  Almighty  regard  had  not  sustained. 

I  am  abundantly  convinced  the  great  Physician  of  souls  is  not 
33 


250 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


far  away  from  thee,  to  help  in  the  necessary  hour,  and,  as  rever- 
ently inquired  after,  will  establish  in  innocence  and  virtue,  and 
bring  salvation  and  peace  to  thy  house.  Though  virtue  is  not 
hereditary,  yet  the  intercessions  of  religious  parents  are  often 
available  on  their  children's  account ;  and  I  hope  at  least  one  of 
the  successors  of  that  worthy  man  of  God,  Robert  Jordan,  may 
know  and  be  happy  with  his  God,  and  may  know  the  same 
result  of  anxiety  Hezekiah  knew  ;  "  Thou  hast,  in  love  to  my 
soul,  delivered  it  from  the  pit  of  destruction." 

That  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  those  who  fear  the 
Lord,  is  an  undeniable  truth,  if  we,  through  impatience  and  in- 
attention, render  not  the  visitation  of  Heaven  unprofitable  to  us. 
This  consideration  hath  often  induced  my  reverent  kissing  the 
rod,  and  humble  inquiry  into  that  instruction  which  ever  attends 
it :  who  knows  what  scenes  of  temptation  a  confinement  to  a 
sick  chamber  prevents  our  being  tried  with  ;  peradventure  it 
may  be  the  hollow  of  an  Almighty  hand,  hiding  us  until  the 
causes  of  indignation  are  past  by.  Yet  when  that  is  gone  by, 
the  call,  "  My  people,  come  out  of  thy  chambers,"  claims  equal 
regard,  for  we  have  various  relations  in  life  to  discharge,  and 
holy  diligence  and  watchfulness  will  be  rewarded  wuh  a  bul- 
wark of  defence,  and,  placed  in  the  midst  of  this  world  and 
its  commotions,  we  shall  know  our  situations  to  be  as  a  garden 
enclosed.  Great  is  the  want  of  such  examples,  though  there 
are  some  yet  preserved,  and  I  trust  among  the  youth  of  thy  sex 
an  increasing  number,  who  know  salvation  as  walls  and  bul- 
warks, and  though  little  sisters,  yet  in  the  lineage  of  the  immor- 
tal family,  and  though  weak,  surrounded  with  all-sufficiency ; 
and  I  hope  thy  place  amongst  these  happy  relatives  to  the  King 
in  Zion,  will  not  be  vacant,  here  or  hereafter. 

My  regard  and  strong  desires  for  thee  are  more  than  I  can 
express,  and  hope  accompanies  my  mind,  that  thou  wilt  be  help- 
ed to  live  to  thy  Creator,  be  a  comfort  to  such  as  may  expect 
it  from  thee,  and  know  a  time  of  more  true  relief  every  way. 

S.  F. 


^TAT.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  251 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

Burlington,  3d  Mo.,  1756. 

I  think  I  have  very  little  worth  notice  to  send  thee, 
but  the  token  of  affectionate  remembrance,  in  a  degree  of  revi- 
val of  that  love  which  never  dies,  which  at  first  baptized  and  uni- 
ted our  spirits,  and  remains  of  our  joy,  and  at  times  is  cause  of 
it  one  to  another.  I  believe,  in  proportion  to  our  access  to  the 
Father  of  lights,  its  lustre  and  animating  rays  will  retain  and  in- 
crease their  splendour,  and  in  times  of  traversing  the  gloomy,  re- 
mote regions  of  the  shadow  of  death,  its  reflection,  though  not  in 
direct  lines,  will  be  relieving,  and  its  genuine,  though  faint 
beams,  convey  hope. 

The  course  of  my  experience,  since  I  left  Philadelphia,  hath 
taught  me  a  practical  paraphrase  on  what  the  Apostle  meant  by 
living  by  faith,  and  at  the  same  time  all  within  me  hath  been 
repeatedly  humbled  by  the  wise  alternations  of  light  and  dark- 
ness. Seldom,  in  my  spiritual  progress,  in  my  own  individual 
case,  am  I  more  deeply  poor  out  of  meetings,  and  more  reduc- 
ed to  a  poor  morsel  of  bread,  and  sometimes  not  that,  except  the 
word  of  patience  ;  and  in  meeting,  not  often  more  opened  in  the 
powerful  Word  of  Life  ;  but  alas  !  I  feel  like  a  tube  ;  some  li- 
quid, crystal  stream  runs  through  me  to  others,  but  I  doubt  lit- 
tle remains.  May  the  cleansing  efficacy  of  the  holy  stream  pu- 
rify the  channel,  and  run  into  that  reservoir  constructed  by  Eter- 
nal wisdom,  out  of  my  reach,  but  whence  he  can  water  my  gar- 
den, even  with  his  foot. 

I  was  favoured  with  some  open,  relieving  times  in  Philadel- 
phia. I  left  that  place  on  the  21st  of  last  month,  and  came 
hither  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  Ministers  and  Elders,  which 
was,  through  very  hard  labour,  at  last  well.  I  was  at  Mount- 
holly  on  first  day,  and  in  this  town  in  the  evening  ;  both  meet- 
ings large  and  well ;  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  here  on  second 
day,  and  the  Youth's  on  third,  both  large,  and  the  latter  memo- 
rably comfortable.     On  fourth  day,  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting 


252 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


for  Ministers  and  Elders,  at  Wrightstown  ;  very  close  labour, 
but  strength  proportioned  to  the  work  :  a  large,  profitable  meet- 
ing succeeded,  held  that  evening  in  the  Court-house  at  New- 
Town.  Next  day,  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  very  large,  and  a 
thorough  good  meeting,  through  manifest  support  in  the  extend- 
ing of  the  fan,  and  the  axe,  and  the  oil  of  consecration  to  those 
who  waited  for  it.  I  left  that  county  easy,  and  came  to  this 
place.  On  seventh  day,  had  a  large  meeting  in  a  Baptist  meet, 
ing-house  about  eleven  miles  off;  yesterday,  a  large  meeting  at 
Mansfield,  and  this  day  a  large  and  heavenly  meeting  at  the 
monthly  Meeting  here. 

Our  Epistle  from  Philadelphia  to  the  Monthly  Meetings  meets 
with  a  different  reception  as  the  people  differ  ;  the  libertines^ 
worldly-minded,  and  opposers  of  the  reformation  in  themselves 
and  others,  cavil  and  rage  ;  but  the  seed  is  relieved,  and  the 
honest-hearted  are  strengthened.  1  see  it  will  be  a  time  of  di- 
vision between  wheat  and  chaff,  and  that  we  shall  find  some 
amongst  the  latter  we  thought  would  have  been  more  deeply 
weighty,  and  perhaps  the  contrary  in  some  other  instances. 
But  the  company,  in  which  some  who  dissented  from  us  find 
themselves  left,  will,  I  believe,  awaken  some  weak,  honest  hearts 
to  ponder,  whether  Divine  wisdom  hath  changed  the  channel  of 
instrumental  intelligence  from  its  usual  course,  by  a  living,  sen- 
sible ministry,  into  the  muddy  pipes  of  the  licentious. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Philadelphia,  4lh  Mo.,  28th,  1756. 

I  often  feel  called  upon  by  the  voice  of  unfeigned 
affection  to  remember  thee  ;  there  is  something  in  my  mind 
stronger  than  mere  nature  inspires,  which  suggests  strong 
and  sincere  desires  for  thee  every  way,  as  for  myself;  and 
as  thou  well  knows,  from  a  measure  of  experience,  the  path 
to  true  happiness,  may  thy  strength  be  renewed  with  the 
increase  of  thy  knowledge,  that  through  all  the  intricacies 


^TAT.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


253 


and  probations  of  life,  ihy  race  may  be  steady,  and  its  termina- 
tion be  within  the  everlasting  gates  of  that  city,  whose  inhabi- 
tants are  established  in  peace  without  alloy. 

The  first  perception  of  approaching  liberty  to  revisit  my  na- 
tive land,  was  allowed  on  my  return  from  a  laborious  and  pain- 
ful visit  to  the  western  shore  of  Maryland.  I  never  until  then 
found  myself  at  liberty,  or  even  much  desirous  to  draw  the  cur- 
tain aside,  but  it  was  then  rather  lifted  up  by  the  Master's  hand, 
and  a  two-fold  sense  was  given,  of  peaceful  approbation,  and  a 
view  of  release.  Nevertheless,  my  mind  is  quietly  calm,  yet 
under  the  weight  of  some  remaining  service,  and  solemnly  still, 
without  any  tumultuous  emotion,  in  the  view  of  my  again  being 
personally  conversant  with  those  to  whom  I  am  united  in  the 
ties  of  nature,  and  the  closer  cement  of  grace. 

I  have  gratefully  and  reverently  to  acknowledge  that  the 
unspeakable  mercy  of  an  all-sufficient  Hand,  has  been  plen- 
tifully extended,  in  such  a  manner,  as  loudly  to  demand  a 
humble  abasement  and  faithful  subjection  to  his  holy  requir. 
ings. 

Being  made  to  know  I  go  not  in  this  warfare  at  my  own  ex- 
pense, but  though  spiritually  without  bag,  scrip,  staff,  or  shoes 
on  my  feet,  of  my  own  providing,  yet  the  inexhaustible  store, 
house,  armoury,  and  wardrobe,  where  all  the  living  generations 
have  sought  and  received  supphes,  is  often  opened  to  my  hum- 
bling admiration;  and  though  I  have  travelled  at  great  expense, 
the  bag  continues  to  be  filled  with  fresh  riches,  the  scrip  with 
suitable  bread,  and  the  staff  strong  to  support  in  arduous,  pain- 
ful pilgrimage  ;  and  though  I  have  travelled  amongst  sharp, 
cutting  rocks,  rending  thorns,  and  even  amongst  scorpions  and 
serpents,  my  feet  are  not  bruised,  but  shod  with  the  preparation 
of  the  Gospel  of  peace  and  light. 

I  have  not  an  exulting  thought  in  my  heart  to  appropriate 
these  favours  to  my  own  wisdom  or  worthiness,  but  my  exulta- 
tion is  in  the  name  of  Him  whose  mercy  is  unutterable,  and  not 
at  all  proportioned  to  ray  meritSi  which  wo^ld  issue  in  eternal 


254 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


misery,  if  interposing  condescension  averted  not  the  stroke. 
Oh  !  that  every  succeeding  day  of  my  Ufe  may  produce  a 
testimony  of  my  awful  regard  to  the  riches  of  Divine  for- 
giveness. 

I  have  had  another  smart  attack  of  my  old  complaint ;  it  was 
not  of  long  duration,  confining  me  only  eight  days,  but  for  four 
days  exceedingly  grievous  pain  in  my  side,  breast,  and  back. 
It  seized  me  at  New-York,  in  a  house  where  both  inclination 
and  ability  concurred  to  render  me  every  service  possible.  I 
was  so  disabled  as  not  to  be  able  to  ride  on  horse-back,  but  came 
in  a  chaise  from  New-York  hither,  and  in  about  fourteen  days 
was  bravely  recovered. 

Another  circumstance  it  may  not  be  improper  to  mention,  lest 
it  should  come  some  other  way.  The  day  I  came  to  New- York, 
one  of  the  ferry-boats  was  overset,  and  eleven  people  drowned. 
As  it  was  pretty  generally  known  that  I  intended  to  cross  the 
ferry  that  day,  it  was  suggested  that  I.  was  amongst  the  people 
who  were  lost,  and  the  report  circulated  through  the  neighbour- 
ing provinces  with  surprising  swiftness,  even  down  to  Maryland 
in  four  days.  I  was  apprehensive  some  forward  person  might 
transmit  it  to  England,  and,  therefore,  with  a  grateful  heart 
to  the  great  and  good  Preserver,  give  thee  and  my  friends,  if 
such  a  rumour  should  come,  this  intelligence.  I  passed  the 
ferry  the  same  day  in  safely.  I  had  a  meeting  that  day  in  the 
seat  of  government  of  the  Jerseys,  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting- 
house ;  the  governor,  J.  Belcher,  procured  it,  and  attended  the 
meeting.  I  dined  with  him  afterwards,  and  met  with  a  kindj 
affectionate  reception  ;  he  is  old,  and  his  body  enfeebled,  but  I 
think  this  immortal  part  not  far  from  the  kingdom. 

I  could  not  pass  by  this  circumstance,  as  in  that  town,  i.  e. 
Elizabeth  Town,  our  dear  and  worthy  father  met  with  bitter 
opposition  when  last  here,  from  the  former  priest,  and  with  dif- 
ficulty got  a  meeting  in  the  place  ;  and  such  is  the  change, 
that  the  present  priest  voluntarily  offered  me,  in  his  terms 
"  his    pulpit."     I   did   not  ascend   his   rostrum,  but,  as 


JETA.T.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


'  255 


no  place  could  be  procured  equally  large  for  the  reception  of 
the  people,  accepted  the  house.  It  was  a  day  of  memorable 
mercy,  and  I  hope  as  such  will  be  remembered.  The  General 
Spring  Meeting  here  was  very  large,  Friends  from  remote 
places  coming  to  see  and  take  leave  of  the  Europeans,  and  it 
Avas  a  great  and  good  meeting  in  its  various  sittings. 

Since  that  time  I  have  travelled  several  hundred  miles,  visit- 
ing some  fresh  places,  and  re-visiting  others  where  I  thought 
duty  led,  and  have  now  gone  through  all  the  provinces  of  North 
America,  as  fully  as  any  that  ever  came  into  these  parts,  ex- 
cepting one  remote  corner  in  New  England,  where  are  two 
small  meetings.  Yet  am  I  fastened  here ;  Joshua  Dixon  sailed 
some  days  ago,  in  a  vessel  for  London.  Some  weeks  ago,  I 
went  a-board  the  vessel,  but  it  seemed  to  me  no  place  of  rest, 
nor  my  business  here  finished.  Joshua  thought  he  was  released, 
and  the  ship  appeared  pleasant.  I  too,  with  humble  submis- 
sion, desire  when  I  may,  to  return,  but  M.  P.,  C.  P.,  and  myself, 
felt  our  minds  alike  restrained  from  returning,  and  although  we 
now  see  little  before  us,  yet  we  are  bound  to  this  place  and  land, 
for  what  end  we  cannot  fully  see  ;  but  the  Lord  is  with  us,  and 
therein  we  desire  humbly  to  acquiesce. 

There  are  several  very  large  quarterly  meetings  coming  on, 
which  I  am  ready  to  believe  will  tend  to  our  discharge. 

The  distress  of  this  province  is  great — its  commotions  violent 
— all  the  desolations  of  a  cruel  Indian  war  impendant,  and  the 
legislature  in  a  great  degree  infatuated;  it  seems  like  a  judicial 
desertion  of  all  their  counsels,  and  every  step  they  take  increases 
their  perplexity.  Friends  have  interposed  for  the  restoration  of 
peace,  and  borne  their  testimony  faithfully  ;  I  hope  it  will  issue 
in  their  dismission  from  government,  their  connexion  with  which 
hath  been  of  great  dis-service  of  later  times  to  the  real  end  of 
our  being  raised  up  as  a  peculiar  people,  to  bear  our  testimony 
to  Him  whose  kingdom  is  in  peace  and  righteousness.  The 
love  of  power,  the  ambition  of  superiority,  the  desire  of  exemp- 
tion from  suffering,  strongly  operate  with  many  under  our  name, 


256 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


to  continue  in  stations  wherein  they  sacrifice  their  testimonv, 
and  are  as  salt  which  hath  lost  its  savour.  But  as  it  now  ap- 
pears that  we  can  scarcely  keep  the  Truth  and  its  testimony 
inviolate,  and  retain  those  places,  many  stand  up  on  the  Lord's 
side,  and  declare  they  have  none  on  earth  in  comparison  with 
the  God  of  their  fathers. 

I  am  already  sensible  of  perils  amongst  false  brethren,  and 
am  afraid  they  will  be  strengthened  from  your  side  the  water  ; 
some  letters  are  already  received,  disapproving  Friends' conduct 
here,  in  a  crisis  in  which  there  appeared  to  me  an  awful  inquiry 
Who  is  on  my  side,  who  ? 

I  intended  to  have  written  to  dear  brother,  but  am  not  allowed 
time ;  the  present  posture  of  affairs  is  not  to  be  described  in  a 
short  compass,  and  I  cannot  meddle  with  gathering  a  bundle  of 
sticks  to  lay  upon  a  fire  which  already  burns  too  fiercely,  lest  I 
should  gather  a  viper  to  bite  my  hand. 

My  dear  love  attends  M.  W.,  and  what  can  I  say  to  her  that 
she  knows  not,  of  the  alone  everlasting  Husband  and  Judge  for 
the  widow  and  fatherless,  whom  she  knows,  and  w^ho  I  humbly 
hope  will  not  fail  in  this  time  of  trial  ? 

If  any  ask  when  I  return  home,  I  can  only  say,  as  soon  as  I 
can  and  bring  peace  with  me  ;  that  peace  I  have  diligently 
sought;  and  though  the  curtain  long  drawn  between  me  and 
home,  is  at  limes  a  little  drawn  by,  yet  I  see  not  full  liberty  to 
leave  this  land,  but  hope  a  few  weeks  more  may  set  the  seal 
of  peace  upon  my  dismission. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Philadelphia,  4th  Mo.,  29th,  1756. 
I  acknowledge  with  thankfulness  the  kind  regard 
of  our  great  Master,  in  keeping  us  in  quiet  resignedness  in 
this  time  of  separation,  for  his  cause'  sake,  and  that  he  is 
present  in  the  needful  hour.  I  might  speak  largely  of  his 
gracious  dealings  with  me  in  this  laborious  service,  but  I 


^TAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


257 


silently  adore  his  hand,  and  crave  his  favours  naay  be  remem- 
bered by  me,  and  produce  a  testimony  of  daily  and  awful  regard 
to  the  richness  of  his  mercy. 

 I  greatly  rejoice  to  hear  of  some  revival  amongst  you, 

and  ardently  wish  preservation,  stability,  and  growth  to  every 
plant  our  Heavenly  Father  hath  planted,  and  I  am  abundantly 
convinced  it  will  not  be  of  the  Lord  that  unfruitfulness  and  in- 
stability appear  in  any  ;  He  would  yet  make  Zion  the  joy  of  the 
whole  earth. 

I  expect  this  is  the  last  letter  I  shall  send  from  these  parts. 
I  am  humbly  thankful  that  the  Hand  which  directed  my  opening 
services  on  my  first  arrival  here,  is  near  to  help  and  strengthen 
to  my  own  comfort ;  and  I  may  reverently  say,  he  hath  set  before 
me  an  open  door  amongst  this  people,  and  they  know,  and  the 
Lord  knows,  I  have  not  flattered  them,  nor  coveted  any  marks 
of  their  regard. 

 The  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania  continue  to  be  harassed 

by  the  barbarous  Indians,  who  destroy  man,  woman,  and  child  ; 
all  attempts  to  defend  themselves  against  them  seem  vain,  and 
the  means  of  restoring  peace,  (to  wit)  doing  the  Indians  justice,  by 
fully  paying  them  for  their  lands,  were  in  the  beginning  shame- 
fully neglected,  and  Vvill  now  be  very  difficult  to  bring  about. 

Unsearchable  are  the  ways  of  Providence  in  the  execution  of 
his  judgments,  and  his  steps  in  his  holy  sanctuary,  to  get  him- 
self a  name  :  resentment,  anger,  and  destruction  to  their  enemies, 
seem  to  be  the  general  reply  to  this  awful  voice,  instead  of  a 
strict  inquiry,  "  Is  there  not  a  cause  ?"  Oh  that  this  and  our 
mother  country  may  both  learn  righteousness,  before  the  brand- 
ished sword  of  justice  be  unsheathed  to  their  terrible  chastise- 
ment !  S.  F. 

JOHN  CHURCHMAN  TO  ANN  FOTHERGILL. 

East  Nottingham,  5th  Mo.,  23d,  1756. 

There  are  but  few  of  the  many  friends  in  England  that 

i  more  frequently  remember  than  thee  and  thy  dear  brother,  and 
34 


25S 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


that  with  sincere  desires  that  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  of  Isaac? 
and  of  your  own  natural  father,  may  still  remain  to  be  the  pre- 
parer and  sanclifier  of  your  hearts,  and  that  you  may  still  re- 
main to  delight  therein ;  this,  with  a  mind  truly  bounded  and 
made  content  with  the  allotment  of  Providenee,  is  great  gain 
indeed.  Our  whole  life,  from  earth  to  heaven,  should  be  one 
continual  travel,  and  as  our  heart's  desire  is  towards,  and  our 
eye  fixed  on,  the  mark  of  the  prize  that  is  before  us,  and  this 
object  continues  rising,  so  the  world  is  left  further  and  further 
behind,  and  grows,  as  to  its  enticing  things,  smaller  and  smaller. 

Your  dear  brother  has  made  an  honest  visit  to  the  churches  in 
America,  and  if  he  has  not  much  increased  in  words  and  fine 
eloquence,  I  am  sensible  he  has  improved  in  the  root  of  living 
ministry,  and  has  been  baptized  into  the  states  of  the  people,  as 
much  as  any  I  ever  knew  from  Europe,  and  I  think,  though  I 
love  him  nearly,  my  judgment  is  not  biassed  by  the  warm  re- 
gard I  have  for  him ;  we  may  value  one  another  for  the  work's 
sake,  but  there  is  no  praise  due  to  man  for  the  excellency  of 
the  gift,  for  every  gift,  good  and  perfect,  comes  from  God ;  in 
humble  reverence  let  him  alone  be  therefore  praised  for  ever, 
and  all  his  own  works  will  praise  him  who  is  worthy  for  ever 
and  ever. 

Dear  friend,  thy  countenance  is  as  familiar  to  me  at  this  hour, 
as  it  was  when  I  enjoyed  that  quiet  rest  at  your  house,  so  very 
acceptable  to  me,  being  almost  worn  out,  and  your  singular 
kindness  and  regard  can  never  be  forgotten  by  me  ;  at  seasons^ 
whilst  I  was  in  London,  I  felt  very  poor  and  worthless,  and 
tender  usage  makes  deep  impressions  ;  I  acknowledge,  had  it 
not  been  for  such  humbling  seasons,  whereby  I  was  taught  to 
know  myself,  I  had  been  less  worth  than  I  at  present  am.  Per- 
haps it  may  be  some  encouragement  to  thee  to  know  that  some 
others  have  been  taught  to  thmk  meanly  of  themselves,  when, 
for  their  trial,  their  Life  has  withdrawn  himself,  and  left  them 
to  view  their  own  imperfections. 

John  Churchman. 


^ETAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


259 


ELLEN  EVANS  TO  ANN  FOTHERGILL. 

6lli  Mo.,  1756. 

Though  I  am  a  stranger  to  thy  person,  yet  not  so  to 
the  good  character  thou  bears,  therefore  I  find  freedom  to  send 
thee  a  recital  of  the  close,  prophetic  warning  of  approaching 
trials,  which  was  delivered  to  a  large  auditory,  at  the  time  of 
our  Quarterly  M.eeting  at  Philadelphia,  by  thy  brother,  soon 
after  his  arrival,  when  not  so  much  as  a  handsbreath  of  cloud 
appeared  over  our  land  ;  but  in  a  short  time  a  storm  arose  and 
fell  heavy  on  many  within  our  borders.  As  the  subject  was 
solemn,  so  was  he  quite  great  in  the  delivery  of  it,  which  was 
to  the  following  effect,  viz.  : — A  holy  commemoration  of  God's 
kind  dealings,  formerly  and  latterly,  to  this  our  thriving  colony  ; 
aptly  comparing  it  to  the  vineyard,  the  Lord  thereof  had  in  a 
very  fruitful  hill,  which,  after  clearing  and  fencing,  he  planted 
with  the  choicest  vine  ;  (such  indeed  were  the  first  inhabitants 
of  Pennsylvania,  men  of  excellent  talents,  both  natural  and 
divine  ;) — when,  looking  for  fruit,  behold  it  brought  forth  wild 
grapes.    He  then  queried,  what  more  could  have  been  done 

f  a  people  than  had  been  done  for  us  7  He  besought  us 
to  consider  what  fruit  we  were  bringing  forth  ? — if  sour  grapes, 
we  might  expect  the  fence  should  be  taken  down,  and  we  trod- 
den and  laid  waste  : — signifying  that  such  would  be  our  case, 
if  not  prevented  by  timely  repentance  and  amendment  of  life. 
Such,  indeed,  was  the  force  of  Divine  evidence  which  attended 
him,  that  Friends'  minds  were  seized  with  awful  dread,  and  had 
to  say  to  each  other,  after  meeting — Is  this  the  last  warning 
that  we  are  to  receive  ?  It  seems  so  like  that  of  Jeremiah  to  the 
Jews,  just  before  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  ? 

The  first  time  I  had  an  opportunity  to  hear  him  I  thought 
he  flew  high,  even  to  the  third  heaven ;  when  a  pang  of 
slavish  fear  took  me,  and  I  had  like  to  have  wished  him 
there  for  good  and  all ;  that  is,  safe  in  his  heavenly  mansion ; 


260 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


but  I  was  stopped,  and  bid  not  to  pray  that  he  should  be  taken 
out  of  the  world,  but  to  breathe  for  his  instruction  while  in  it ; 
which  I  did  with  all  the  little  ability  I  had.  But  when  I  had 
opportunity  to  observe  his  humble,  watchful  conduct,  like  one 
always  walking  in  fear,  my  fear,  before-mentioned,  was  entirely 
removed. 

He  is  now  going  to  leave  us,  who  are  so  nearly  united  to 
him,  that  bidding  him  farewell  seems  a  heavy  task  to  me  and 
mine  ;  that  sweet  flow  of  divine  love  which  frequently  passes 
through  his  lieart  to  his  auditory,  endears  him  to  all,  both  saints 
and  sinners. 

There  is  a  fine  company  of  them  going  together.  Those 
precious  ministers,  Mary  Peisley,  and  C.  Payton,  whose  services 
were  great  in  these  parts  of  the  world,  and  also  our  dear  ancient 
friend,  Abraham  Farrington,  and  Samuel  Emlen,  jun. 

As  love  for  a  long  lime  hath  been  grown  in  my  heart  to 
thy  worthy  father,  who,  of  all  men,  struck  the  deepest  impres- 
sions (in  a  religious  sense)  on  my  mind,  so  it  is  matter  of  rejoicing 
to  me  to  hear  of  the  welfare  of  his  family.  I  often  do  believe 
God  has  a  peculiar  regard  to  the  seed  of  the  righteous ;  such, 
dear  friends,  you  are.  May  the  blessing  of  your  Father's  God 
rest  plentifully  on  all  your  heads. 

 Accept  of  the  love  of  one  of  thy  father's  old 

friends, 

Ellen  Evans. 


In  several  of  the  preceding  letters,  mention  is  made  of  the 
alarm  which  then  prevailed,  on  account  of  the  inroads  made  by 
the  Indians  on  the  back  settlements  of  Pennsylvania  and  some 
neighbouring  states.  It  was  a  time  of  war  between  England 
and  France,  and  the  French  authorities  in  Canada  had  engaged 
some  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  this  warfare. 

The  city  of  Philadelphia,  in  particular,  was  in  a  state  of 
much  excitement :  the  defeat  and  death  of  General  Brad- 


^TAT.  40.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


261 


dock  ;  the  devastations  committed  by  the  Indians,  and  the  fear 
that  they  and  their  alhes  might  even  attack  the  city  itself,  caused 
great  and  general  alarm. 

Friends  were  under  an  exercise  of  mind,  not  only  that  all  the 
members  of  the  Society  might  be  kept  quiet  and  faithful  in 
support  of  its  testimony  against  all  war,  but  were  also  much 
engaged  in  interceding  and  making  efforts  with  the  Government 
and  with  the  Indian  chiefs,  (with  whom  they  had  great  influence,) 
to  prevent  a  general  Indian  warfare.  Another  cause  of  anxiety 
was  an  impost  or  war-tax,  which  the  Assembly  had  laid  upon 
the  inhabitants,  by  which  Friends  were  brought  into  consider- 
able difficulty. 

Samuel  Fothergill,  as  was  often  acknowledged,  was  very 
helpful  to  Friends  under  these  circumstances  ;  aiding  them  with 
his  counsel,  an  1  frequently  engaged  in  earnest  exhortations  for 
all  to  remain  faithful  in  support  of  their  Christian  testimony. 
"  If  the  potsherds  of  the  earth  clash  together,  let  them  clash  !" 
was  his  language  ;  and  his  charge  in  particular  to  Friends  was 
to  abide  in  their  tents,  and  not  so  much  as  to  look  outward,  but 
to  avoid  and  keep  clear  of  every  thing  contrary  to  the  peace- 
able spirit  of  the  gospel  of  Christ ;  and  thus  to  show  themselves 
his  true  disciples.  He  joined  with  several  other  Friends  in 
signing  and  issuing  at  this  time  an  epistle  of  advice  and  caution. 
He  also  united  with  Friends  in  their  efforts  to  preserve  the  peace 
of  the  colony,  and  in  particular  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  be- 
coming engaged  in  the  war.  These  efforts  were  frequent  and 
strenuous,  but  proved  unavailing.  In  his  Journal  are  the  fol- 
lowing entries. 

"  4th  Mo.,  9th,  1756.  — Had  some  labour  amongst  Friends, 
"  to  endeavour  to  prevent  a  cruel  Indian  war ;  and  had  also  a 
"  conference  with  the  present  and  late  Governor,  along  with 
"  J.  P.,  [JohnrPemberton,]  upon  the  present  posture  of  affairs ; 
"  they  received  us  with  candour,  but  our  labour  was  ineffectual, 
"  for  on  the 

"  10th,  a  day  to  be  remembered  through  many  generations 


* 


262 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


"  with  sorrow,  the  Governor  agreed  to  proclaim  war  against  the 
"  Delawares,  and  delivered  the  hatchet  into  the  hands  of  some 
"  of  the  Indians." 

This  conclusion,  on  the  part  of  the  Government,  was  the 
source  of  much  distress  to  Friends  in  general ;  and  Samuel 
Fothcrgill  largely  partook  of  it.  He,  Catherine  Fayton,  and 
Mary  Peisley,  during  one  of  their  earlier  visits  to  Philadelphia, 
were  in  that  city  when  the  first  soldiers  who  had  received  their 
commissions  from  the  English  Government  arrived  there,  under 
the  command  of  General  Braddock.  The  circumstance  excited 
considerable  attention,  and  is  thus  mentioned  by  C.  Payton,  in 
her  journal : — "  I  said  a  cloud  of  darkness  came  with  them. 
The  Lord  had  settled  this  colony  by  peaceable  means  ;  he  hath 
hitherto  protected  it  by  his  own  Almighty  arm,  and  it  prospered 
greatly  ;  but  henceforward,  disunion  and  disturbance  prevailed 
and  increased  in  it.  Our  friend,  Samuel  Fothergill,  as  well  as 
we,  were  strongly  and  affectionately  engaged  to  promote  peace, 
and  guard  them  against  the  event,  which  he  feared  would  ensue, 
and  which  in  time  followed." 

The  General  Spring  Meeting  held  in  Philadelphia,  (1756,) 
was  very  numerously  attended,  and  was  a  solemn,  instructive 
meeting ;  in  which  the  Friends,  whose  labours  in  America  were 
now  nearly  accomplished,  had  considerable  service,  and  in  the 
love  of  the  Gospel,  took  a  solemn  and  affectionate  leave,  and 
soon  afterwards  embarked  for  Europe. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

On  board  the  Snow  Polly,  near  Bombay  Hook, 
6th  Mo.,  1756. 

Thy  very  acceptable  salutation,  I  read  in  that  love 
and  affection  in  which  I  am  sure  it  was  written  ;  and  I  trust 
the  pure  friendship,  hitherto  subsisting  since  our  first  ac- 
quaintance, will  often  receive  a  holy  stimulus  as  we  have 
recourse  to  its  inexhaustible  source  with  suitable  frequeiacy, 
and  furnish  us  with  both  inclination  and  ability  to  converse 


^TAf.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


263 


together,  when  we  must  be  necessarily  separated  in  body  :  for 
I  think,  whilst  I  am  in  the  body,  I  shall  never  forget  the  regard 
and  sympathy  thou  hast  manifested  ;  and  although  the  heavenly 
approbation  is  the  most  to  be  prized  and  sought  after,  yet  the 
pure  fellowship  of  the  brotherhood  is  a  stream  from  that  emi- 
nent spring  whence  all  good  proceeds  ;  and  even  the  fellowship 
of  the  saints  on  high,  in  the  Father's  love,  is  a  part  of  their 
felicity. 

I  have  taken  my  leave  of  America  with  peace  and  quietude 
of  mind.  I  have  some  sea  store,  but  not  to  profusion.  I  beg 
wisdom  to  husband  it  well,  that  I  may  carry  some  of  it  home, 
and  know  it  blessed  when  I  come  there.  I  have  sometimes 
deeply  inquired  into  my  own  state,  and  feared  an  apostacy,  in 
that  the  ecstacies  of  joy,  heretofore  very  often  renewed,  have 
of  late  time  very  much  abated.  It  hath  taught  profitable  in- 
quiries, and  hath  sometimes  appeared  not  to  be  occasioned  by 
declension,  but  by  a  solid  equanimity  in  enlargement  of  expe- 
rience, and  more  productive  of  stable  joy  and  fixedness,  than 
the  variable  circumstances  attending  the  former.  I  boast  not 
of  my  growth,  for  I  have  not  overgrown  a  variety  of  painful 
weaknesses.  I  am  easy  with  a  solid  review  of  my  journey,  and 
believe  I  shall  very  frequently  remember  many  of  you  in  love 
unfeigned. 

S.  F. 

The  last  entry  in  S.  Fothergill's  journal  is  this  : — "  5th  of 
6th  Mo.,  1756. — Came  on  board  the  vessel  Charming  Polly, 
John  Troy,  master,  bound  for  Dublin. — Left  this  land,  with 
peace  and  holy  quiet." 

Thus  concluded,  with  that  reward  he  had  so  earnestly  de- 
sired, and  so  diligently  sought,  the  visit  of  Samuel  Fothergill  to 
America  : — a  visit,  during  which  he  had  faithfully  and  honestly 
laboured,  and  wherem  he  spake  diligently  the  things  of  the 
Lord ;  he  had  taught  publicly,  and  from  house  to  house,  and 
had  not  shunned  to  declare  all  the  counsel  of  God. 


264 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


To  many  in  that  land  he  had  become  bound  by  ihe  strong 
ties  of  Christian  love  ;  this  bond  was  mutual,  and  terminated 
but  with  life  itself.  Many  were  the  proofs  and  testimonies 
reciprocally  given  of  this  feeling  ;  several  more  public  testimo- 
nials were  also  issued  by  his  friends,  of  their  approbation  of  his 
labours  amongst  them.* 

The  vessel  in  which  the  Friends  embarked  had  a  compa- 
ratively quick,  though  rather  a  stormy  passage,  of  thirty-four 
days.  The  waves,  at  times,  dashed  over  into  the  cabin.  Not- 
withstanding the  stormy  weather,  they  had  many  good  and  pre- 
cious meetings  during  the  voyage,  some  of  which  were  attended 
by  the  master  and  sailors. 

It  being  a  time  of  war,  several  French  privateers  were 
in  the  Irish  channel  ;  they  were  favoured  to  avoid  these, 
and  to  arrive  in  safety  at  Dublin,  on  the  9th  of  the  7th  Mo., 
1756. 

•  The  following  certificates,  which  he  brought  from  various  meetings, 
are  amongst  the  records  of  Hardshaw  Monthly  Meeting,  viz- : — 

From  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Hopewell,  held  at  Opechan,  in  the  county 
of  Frederick,  Virginia. 

From  the  Quarterly  Meeting  held  at  Symonses  Creek,  in  North  Carolina. 

From  the  Monthly  Meeting  held  at  Frederickburgh,  in  South  Carolina. 

From  the  Yearly  Meeting  held  at  Nancemond,  Virginia. 

From  the  Yearly  Meeting  held  at  West-river,  in  Maryland. 

From  the  Quarterly  Meeting  held  at  Portsmouth,  Rhode  Island. 

From  the  Quarterly  Meetmg  held  at  Flushing,  in  Long  Island,  New 
York. 

From  the  Quarterly  Meeting  held  at  Burlington,  New  Jersey- 
Frora  the  Monthly  Meeting  held  in  Philadelphia,  28th  of  5th  Month, 
1756.    (This  is  signed  by  eighty  men  Friends-) 

The  tenor  of  these  documents  is, — "  That  his  public  labours  amongst 
"  us,  both  in  the  ministry  and  the  discipline,  have  been  fervent,  deep,  and 
"  lively;  to  the  edification  and  building  up  of  the  Church,  the  information 
"  of  strangers,  and  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  such  as  wish  well  to  Zion's 
"  cause." 

According  to  the  account  kept  in  his  journal,  he  had  travelled,  during 
his  visit  in  America,  8,765  miles. 


^TAT.  40.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


265 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Dublin,  7lh  Mo.,  10th,  1756. 

I  salute  thee  in  the  tenderest  affection,  and  hereby 
inform  ihee  of  my  safe  arrival  in  this  city,  after  a  good  passage 
of  five  weeks,  in  w^hich  time  I  have  been,  and  yet  am,  greatly 
favoured  with  health,  and  a  degree  of  that  holy  peace  which 
passes  understanding.  Glory  and  praise  to  His  adorable  name, 
who  lays  the  beams  of  his  chambers  in  the  waters,  and  is  the 
defence  of  his  people  for  ever. 


They  were  detained  in  Dublin  upwards  of  two  weeks. 
On  tlie  25  th  of  7th  Mo.,  S  Fothergill  and  C.  Pay  ton 
embarked  for  Holyhead,  and  proceeded  thence  to  Chester. 
Here  they  parted  ;  and  on  the  29lh  of  that  month,  Samuel 
Fothergill  was  favoured  to  reach  in  safety  his  own  house  at 
Warrington. 


35 


CHAPTER  IX. 


The  impressions  made  upon  the  mind  of  Samuel  Fother- 
GiLL  by  his  visit  to  America,  were  never  obliterated  ;  his  dih- 
gent  labours  there  for  the  advancement  of  truth  and  righteous- 
ness— his  fervent  desires  that  these  labours  might  not  be  in 
vain,  but  that,  through  the  blessing  of  Him  whom  he  desired  to 
serve,  there  might  be  brought  forth  fruit,  even  an  hundred-fold 

—  his  intercourse  with  Friends — his  warm  attachment  to  them 

—  the  particular  friendships  formed  with  many — and  the  deep 
interest  he  ever  afterwards  continued  to  feel  for  their  welfare 
and  their  various  concerns,  were  subjects  often  predominant  in 
his  thoughts,  and  conspicuous  in  his  correspondence. 

Amongst  those  to  whom  Samuel  Folhergill  became  much 
attached  whilst  on  his  visit  to  America,  and  whose  minds  were 
peculiarly  affected  by  his  ministry,  was  Samuel  Emlen,  the 
son  of  Joshua  and  Deborah  Emlen,  of  Philadelphia.  He  was 
endowed  with  great  natural  powers  of  mind,  with  a  peculiar 
readiness  and  fluency  of  expression,  and  had  received  a  liberal 
education,  being  well  skilled  in  several  languages.  He  accom- 
panied S.  Fothergill  on  his  return  to  Europe,  and  an  intimate 
friendship  ever  afterwards  subsisted  between  them. 

He  was  the  companion  of  Abraham  Farrington  during  part 
of  his  religous  visit  to  England  and  Ireland,  and  at  a  meeting 
at  Carlow  he  first  appeared  in  the  ministry.  In  this  service  he 
travelled  much  on  the  American  Continent ;  he  also  visited  the 
island  of  Barbadoes,  and  was  several  limes  in  England,  where 
he  travelled  extensively,  as  well  as  in  Ireland  and  Holland. 


^TAT.  40.] 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS,  &C. 


267 


In  1772,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic,  with  John  Woolman,  in- 
tending to  pay  a  visit  to  his  much-loved  friend,  Samuel  Fother- 
gill,  then  in  a  weak  state  of  health  ;  they  arrived  in  London  at 
the  time  of  tlie  Yearly  Meeting,  and  when  that  was  concluded, 
he  hastened  to  Warrington  ;  but  ere  he  arrived  there,  his  friend 
was  released  from  the  bonds  of  mortality,  and  had  entered  into 
his  rest.  Samuel  Emlen  attended  the  interment,  and  was 
largely  engaged  in  the  ministry  on  that  occasion. 

His  last  visit  to  Europe  was  in  1796 ;  he  was  not  able  to 
travel  much,  but  spent  most  of  the  time  in  Dublin  and  in  Lan- 
cashire, visiting  the  meetings  and  families  of  Friends  very  ac- 
ceptably, thus  setting  the  seal  to  his  previous  abundant  labours 
in  England  and  Ireland. 

Upon  his  return  home  in  1797,  the  health  of  Samuel  Emlen 
became  much  impaired  ;  his  constitution  was  naturally  weak 
and  infirm,  and  from  this  period  he  gradually  declined.  A  short 
time  before  his  decease,  being  at  a  meeting  at  Philadelphia, 
whilst  engaged  in  a  lively  testimony,  he  was  seized  with  violent 
pain ;  leaning  for  support  on  the  rail  of  the  gallery,  he  patheti- 
cally repeated  these  lines  : — 

"  My  life,  if  thou  preservest  my  life, 

Thy  sacrifice  shall  be  ; 
And  death,  if  death  must  be  my  doom. 

Shall  join  my  soul  to  thee." 

He  departed  this  life  on  the  30lh  of  12th  Month,  1799,  aged 
nearly  70  years,  having  been  a  minister  42  years.  His  inter- 
ment was  attended  by  a  large  assemblage  of  his  friends  and 
fellow-citizens,  of  all  ranks  and  degree. 

During  the  last  visit  of  Samuel  Emlen  to  Europe,  he  spent 
much  time  at  Warrington,  and  was  accustomed  often  to  advert 
to  the  labours  of  his  departed  friend  S.  Fothergill,  and  to 
the  powerful  and  awakening  tendency  of  his  ministry.  He 
would  frequently  visit  the  house  in  which  his  friend  had  lived, 
(it  was  then  occupied  by  the  Editor's  parents,)  and  describe  and 
expatiate  upon  the  hours  they  had  there  passed  together:  he 


268 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


also  related  several  interesting  passages  and  circumstances  con- 
nected with  Samuel  Fothergill's  visit  to  America  ;  amongst 
others,  the  following :  — That  during  a  visit  which  he  paid  to  a 
few  Friends  scattered  in  the  back  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  they 
had  to  endure  much  hardship,  were  sometimes  obliged  to  pass 
the  night  in  the  woods,  having  the  sky  for  their  canopy,  their 
travelling  cloaks  for  covering,  and  using  their  saddles  for  pil- 
lows.   Late  one  night,  they  arrived  at  a  solitary  house,  in  a 
lonely  place  ;  here  they  requested  lodgings  for  ihe  night,  which 
were  granted.    They  found  that  the  house  and  extensive  farm 
around  it  belonged  to  an  individual,  the  mistress  of  many  ser- 
vants employed  upon  the  land  ;  she  was  of  masculine  character, 
and  strong  powers  of  mind,  but  of  an  unregenerale  heart,  much 
under  the  influence  of  unsubdued  passions,  and  greatly  addicted 
to  profane  swearing.     S.  Fothergill  told  his  companion  that 
from  what  he  had  observed,  he  thought  her  the  most  wicked 
woman  he  had  ever  seen.    She  nevertheless  treated  them  with 
civility,  and  even  kindness.    The  situation  of  the  family,  with 
such  a  character  for  its  head,  caused  some  exercise  of  mind  to 
S,  Fothergill,  and  in  the  morning  he  requested  that  the  house- 
hold might  be  collected,  and  that  they  might  sit  down  together ; 
this  was  complied  with,  and  the  whole  family  was  asembled. 
He  addressed  them  in  a  remarkable  manner,  and  in  particular 
he  was  led  to  lay  open  the  wickedness  of  the  human  heart  in 
its  unregenerate  state,  and  the  awful  consequences  of  remaining 
in  such  a  stale  ;  his  language  and  expressions  were  so  power- 
ful that  the  mistress  of  the  house  was  greatly  affected,  her  spi- 
rit was  broken,  and  she  wept  much. 

After  this,  feeling  at  liberty,  the  Friends  prepared  to  depart, 
they  took  leave  of  the  family,  and  desired  to  pay  for  their 
entertainment.  She  refused  to  accept  anything,  but  said 
they  were  quite  welcome  to  everything  they  had  had ;  add- 
ing, that  she  was  unworthy  to  receive  such  guests  under  her 
roof;  and  so  powerfully  had  the   word  preached  wrought 


iETAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


269 


upon  her  heart,  that  she  exclaimed,  "  You  are  angels,  but  I  am 
a  devil !  " 

Another  circumstance  was  related  by  Samuel  Fothergill 
himself,  of  a  Friend  at  whose  house  he  had  lodged  when  passing 
through  the  wilderness.  These  thinly-peopled  back  settlements 
were  then  much  infested  by  wolves,  and  she  told  him  of  a  re- 
markable deliverance  which  she  had  once  experienced  from 
these  ferocious  animals. 

She  was  a  widow,  and  lived  with  her  son,  who  cultivated  a 
small  piece  of  land,  which  furnished  them  a  frugal  subsistence. 
Their  nearest  neighbour,  who  lived  a  few  miles  distant,  through 
the  forest,  came  early  one  afternoon,  to  request  she  would  visit 
his  wife,  who  was  suddenly  taken  very  ill,  and  stay  with  her 
while  he  went  for  medical  advice.  With  this  she  complied, 
and  putting  up  in  a  basket  a  few  needful  things  for  the  sick 
woman,  she  told  her  son  she  did  not  expect  to  return  be- 
fore the  next  morning,  and  set  out  and  reached  the  place  in 
safety. 

With  suitable  remedies,  the  invalid  soon  recovered,  and  her 
husband  coming  speedily  back,  the  widow  concluded  to  return 
home  that  evening,  hoping,  as  it  was  a  fine  moonlight  night, 
that  she  might  pass  the  forest  without  danger  ;  but,  on  crossing 
an  open  glade,  she  saw  a  company  of  wolves  drinking  at  a  pool 
of  water  at  some  distance,  which  made  her  sensible  of  her  great 
rashness  and  imprudence,  knowing,  that  unless  she  could  pass 
unobserved,  her  destruction  was  inevitable,  as  no  human  help 
was  at  hand  ;  for  though  her  home  was  now  in  sight,  she  could 
not  get  in,  believing  her  son  would  be  in  bed,  and  the  cottage 
fast.  In  this  strait,  she  lifted  up  her  heart  to  God,  in  earnest 
prayer,  that  He,  who  had  often  strengthened  and  consoled  her 
in  many  troubles,  would  now  be  pleased  to  interpose  for  her 
help,  and  that,  as  she  was  returning  from  a  work  of  charity,  he 
would  not  permit  her  to  be  devoured  by  these  savage  creatures  ; 
her  mind  became  composed,  and  she  ran  quickly  forward  ;  on 
crossing  the  fence,  she  looked  back,  and  perceived  that  one  of 


270 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


the  wolves  had  raised  his  head,  and  discovered  her  ;  he  uttered 
a  shrill  cry,  and  immediately  the  whole  pack  was  in  pursuit. 

Meanwhile,  her  son,  not  expecting  her,  had  retired  to  rest, 
but  he  could  not  sleep;  a  strange  and  unusual  anxiety  came 
over  his  mind,  which  continually  increased  ;  he  got  up,  and 
made  a  large  fire  of  wood,  which  blazed  brightly,  by  which  he 
sat  down  ;  in  a  short  time  he  thought  he  heard  his  mother's  voice 
calling  to  him,  and,  opening  the  door,  he  perceived  her,  followed 
by  several  wolves ;  one  was  so  near  as  almost  to  touch  her 
shoulder  with  his  paw.  The  sudden  light  dazzled  and  checked 
them,  and  for  a  moment  they  fell  back,  which  gave  her  lime  to 
rush  into  the  house  and  close  the  door,  when  she,  with  her  son, 
both  greatly  affected  by  this  deliverance,  united  in  returning 
thanks  for  the  merciful  interposition  which  had  so  remarkably 
preserved  her  life. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  CATHERINE  PAYTON. 

8th  Mo.,  1st,  1756. 

I  affectionately  salute  thee  in  a  degree  of  that  love 
which  hath  often  mutually  united,  and  raised  desires  for  the  pre- 
servation and  establishment  of  each  other  in  these  days  of  dis- 
sipation, when  so  few  come  up  to  the  solemn  feasts  :  and,  dear 
friend,  our  experience  may  teach  us  humblingly  comfortable 
lessons  of  the  faithfulness  and  truth  of  our  heavenly  Father. 
How  hath  he  sustained  in  trials,  within  and  without !  when  the 
billows  rolled  high,  his  arm  supported  ;  and  when  the  diffident 
heart  was  ready  to  say,  "  I  shall  no  more  see  him  in  the  land  of 
the  living,"  he  hath  renewed  his  presence  to  us  as  the  morning 
lio-ht.  Our  duty,  our  greatest  duty  is,  humbly  to  follow  on  to  know 
Him;  to  abide  under  his  holy,  redeeming  hand;  that  every 
branch  which  would  sprout  out  of  his  holy  counsel  may  be  early 
removed  ;  thus,  I  believe,  a  happy  equanimity  of  spmt  might 


^TAT.  40.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


271 


be  more  generally  known,  and  perhaps  less  of  that  deep  suffer- 
ing which  sinks  beneath  the  happy  medium.  I  am  afraid  deep 
sufferings  and  baptisms  must  be  known  by  all  who  retain  their 
place  in  the  Lamb's  army  ;  but  such  is  the  equity  and  truth  of 
our  Captain,  that  if  patience  have  her  perfect  work,  his  true 
followers,  even  through  the  region  of  the  shadow  of  death,  fear 
no  evil.  May  the  Stay  of  the  righteous  in  every  generation 
thus  direct  our  steps,  in  the  midst  of  the  paths  of  judgment,  to 
the  honour  of  his  cause,  the  dignifying  his  name,  and  to  our 
own  peace. 

I  rejoice  to  hear  of  thy  dear  mother's  agreeable  state  of  health , 
and  more  so  to  understand  the  decline  is  made  tolerable  and 
easy,  by  an  increase  in  that  which  remains  when  nature  fails, 
and  is  the  enduring  riches  of  all  who  are  happy.  She  has  been 
long  convinced  of  a  fixed  truth,  and  now  feels  its  sweetness,  that 
religion  is  the  stay  of  life,  and  the  greatest  comfort  of  its  close. 

I  am,  through  mercy,  pretty  well  in  health,  calm  in  spirit, 
though  much  emptied.  I  know  it  is  right,  and  may  every 
residue  of  corruption  be  searched  out  and  removed.  I  can  beg 
for  sanctification  through  the  spirit  of  judgment  and  of  burning, 
and  the  degrees  of  glorification  will  be  justly  attained.] 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  3d  Mo  ,  6th,  1756. 

With  a  heart  replenished  with  strong  emotions  of 
gratitude  to  the  great  Preserver  of  men,  whose  excellent  name 
is  the  abiding  defence  of  his  people,  and  their  sure  munition, 
I  affectionately  salute  thee,  thy  dear  wife,  and  children,  for 
whom,  not  only  from  motives  of  gratitude,  but  the  uniting  cement 
of  the  family,  I  wish  every  degree  of  essential  happiness. 

Under  the  protection  of  the  Holy  hand,  we  arrived  safe 
at  Dublin,  the  9th  of  last  month,  but  I  could  not  reach  my 


272 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


own  habitation  until  tlie  29th,  being  detained  by  contrary  winds. 
But  as  service  offered,  and  renewing  of  strength  to  perform  it, 
I  was  preserved  from  much  impatience,  and  have  cause  to 
beUeve  our  return  by  DubUn  was  in  the  wisdom  and  by  the 
direction  of  Heaven. 

I  found  all  well  at  home,  my  dear  wife  fully  as  healthy  as 
when  I  left  her ;  and  had  awful  occasion  to  acknowledge,  not 
one  word  of  the  Lord  respecting  me  or  mine  hath  fallen  to  the 
ground.  May  it  ever  be  awfully  marvellous  in  mine  eyes,  and 
engage  in  prompt  obedience  to  every  succeeding  call  to  service. 
O  that  I  may  be  preserved  to  be  remembered  in  the  household, 
by  the  great  Master,  and  his  will  respecting  the  labour,  not 
mine,  be  done. 

I  am,  at  present,  much  restricted  for  time  to  write,  but  may 
just  say,  I  am  returned  in  peace,  can  review  my  labour  amongst 
you  at  least  with  ease  ;  and  He  who  drew  forth  has  caused  the 
angel  of  his  presence  to  be  nigh  at  hand  upon  my  return.  I 
have  nothing  to  rejoice  in,  but  abundant  condescension  :  nor 
doth  any  gloomy  cloud  of  distress  intercept  my  prospect  of  the 
heavens.  Various  are  the  prospects  of  the  skies,  according  to 
the  time  of  day,  but  if  the  dark  clouds  arise  not  from  our  own 
misconduct,  we  may  awake  and  arise  from  them,  and  see  the 
holy  hkeness. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  8th  Mo.,  10th,  1756. 

 No  expressions  are  capable  of  setting  forth  the 

variety  of  trials,  painful  labour,  and  exercise,  which,  within  and 
without,  have  atte.nded  me,  since,  this  day  two  years,  we  parted  at 
Gravesend  ;  but  I  may  say,  with  a  deeply  reverent  heart,  equally 
unalterable  have  been  the  sure  mercies  of  our  Heavenly  Father 
and  helper,  before  whom,  our  darkness  and  weakness  is  open  and 
known,  and  his  saving  arm  of  power  magnified  in  the  greatest 
distress.  He  hath  graciously  preserved,  and  helped,  and  kept  to 


^TAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


273 


return  in  peace  and  safely,  when  others  of  his  precious  servants 
have  laid  down  their  hves,  far  from  endeared  relatives.  0  that 
it  may  evermore  be  awfully  marvellous  in  my  eyes.  I  believe 
my  going  was  in  His  wisdom,  and  have  cause  to  believe  my 
return  was  so  likewise.  I  found  work  to  do  at  Dubhn  while  I 
staid,  not  without  lively  evidence  that  I  was  where  I  ought  to 
to  be — and  that  is  enough. 

I  believe  we  parted  on  the  10th  of  8th  Month,  1754,  and  this 
is  its  anniversary  ;  two  years  are  revolved  and  lapsed,  but  I 
trust  they  are  not  lost,  but  have  been  employed  to  future  ad- 
vantage ;  at  least  my  own,  if  I  be  enough  bowed  in  heart  to  live 
near  that  Hand,  which  is  the  glorious  supporter  of  all  who  bear 
its  refining  and  turnings  ;  I  am  calm,  quiet,  and  easy,  not  re- 
turned with  the  rapturous  fruition  of  heavenly  riches  ;  they  are 
locked  up  in  the  celestial  treasury,  and  one  wiser  than  I  keeps 
the  key  

 I  have  gratefully  to  acknowledge.  He  who  is  one  of 

a  thousand  hath  been  comfortably  near  to  my  spirit,  as  a  holy 
stay  and  quiet  rest ;  I  have  an  evidence  of  acceptance,  and  that 
I  have  been  where,  and  done  what  I  ought.  But  it  is  conveyed 
in  the  still  small  voice,  which  requires  very  deep  and  silent 
listening,  and  not  in  the  rapturous  whirlwind.  Good  and  wise 
is  He  with  whom  we  have  to  do ;  oh,  may  we  labour,  with 
diligence  and  steady  patience,  to  be  meet  for  a  place  amongst 
his  own  children,  who  have  their  bread  in  due  season  

S.  F. 

LYDIA  LANCASTER  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Lancaster,  8th  Mo.,  13th,  1756. 
 Yea,  thankful  1  am  that  thou  hast  been  fa- 
voured with  health,  and  every  way  preserved  to  perform  such 
a  long,  heavy,  trying  journey,  and  to  return  in  safety  with  peace 
in  thy  bosom,  and  which  I  hope  will  rest  upon  thee  hke  dew, 

to  thy  lasting  refreshment,  comfort,  and  satisfaction,  of  which 
36 


274 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756 


thy  dear  wife  will  also  have  a  share  ;  for  she  has  been  a  true 
fellow  traveller  with  thee,  in  a  feehng  sense  of  close  sympathy, 
and  hath  borne  thy  absence  in  a  most  prudent  manner,  with 
much  fortitude  and  Christian  patience,  and  becoming  cheerful- 
ness. 

When  we  heard  of  thy  arrival  at  Dublin,  it  made  many  glad 
hearts.  I  have  often  thought  our  Quarterly  Meeting  looked 
naked  and  weak  without  thee,  yet  Providence  hath  graciously 
condescended  to  our  help  and  joy  of  faith. 

I  have  lately  heard  that  Friends  have  had  another  opportu- 
nity with  the  chief  of  the  Jersey  Indians,  since  thou  came  away, 
who  seemed  well  satisfied  with  the  conversation  of  Friends,  and 
said  they  had  now  a  different  apprehension  of  Friends,  having 
had  their  acquaintance  mostly  with  the  new-light  Presbyterians. 
Many  of  them  went  with  Friends  to  their  meeting  on  first  day, 
and  were  much  tendered  under  Truth's  testimony. 

Lydia  Lancaster. 

CATHERINE  PAYTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Dudley,  8th  Mo.,  14th,  1756. 

 Solitude  seems  so  much  my  choice,  as  well  as 

safety,  and  my  present  business  seems  to  be  so  much  at  home, 
that  I  am  willing  to  look  at  it,  being  very  desirous  that  I  may 
not  move  out  of  my  place,  and  so  destroy  that  peace  I  am  at 
present  favoured  with. 

I  am  not,  my  dear  friend,  insensible  that  we  are  frequently  (I 
had  almost  said,  most  frequently)  the  cause  of  that  distress  of 
mind  we  feel,  and  hope  earnestly  to  press  after  a  state  of  perfect 
resignation  to  the  Divine  will.  I  believe  there  is  such  a  state 
of  rectitude  and  strength  to  be  attained  as  that  we  shall  not  be 
greatly  moved  either  by  outward  or  inward  trials,  in  which  at- 
tainment I  know  myself  but  too  deficient ;  but  through  mercy,  I 
have  a  heart  that  loves  instruction,  though  it  comes  in  judgment, 
and  that  has  frequently  prayed  that  the  Almighty  might  not  spare 
the  rod  when  it  was  necessary,  by  which,  as  well  as  the  staff,  I 


^TAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL, 


275 


have  been  comforted ;  yea,  I  have  been  fully  willing  that  the  righ- 
teous justice  of  God  should  be  exerted,  and  if  for  any  transgression 
I  was  cast  into  prison,  I  might  remain  there  the  appointed  time. 
But,  through  his  grace,  I  dare  hope  for  a  degree  of  liberty, 
which  I  already  feel  ;  and  may  my  eye  be  ever  kept  humbly 
watchful,  that  my  flight  may  neither  be  in  the  winter  nor  on 
the  Sabbath  day. 

Catherine  Payton. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

Warrington,  lOlh  Mo.,  26th,  1756. 
It  hath  not  been  the  effect  of  forgetfulness,  that  I 
have  not  before  this  time  written  to  thee,  from  this,  the  land  of 
my  nativity  ;  but  a  variety  of  outward  affairs,  to  which  prudence 
required  my  attention,  and  some  employment  relative  to  the 
Society,  may  plead  my  excuse  ;  especially  to  one  who  knows 
I  dearly  love  him,  although  I  cannot  tell  him  so  at  all  times. 
It  is  surely  when  the  warmth  of  this  holy  union  prevails,  that 
correspondence  is  most  truly  beneficial. 

I  am  returned  home  in  safety  ;  and  though  I  feel  no  raptu- 
rous enjoyment  of  riches,  yet  pretty  much  exempt  from  out- 
ward blame,  in  the  close  review  and  examination  of  my  progress 
in  your  land.  Although  the  rod,  as  well  as  the  staff,  are  the 
wise  allotments  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  and  to  me  equally 
necessary,  yet  I  find  it  safe  to  endeavour  after  steadfast  de- 
pendence upon  Him,  with  whom  alone  is  salvation.  I  have 
sometimes  a  glimpse  of  more  openness,  and  the  more  sensible 
testimony  of  acceptance.  But  may  I  seek  more  worthiness, 
for  I  have  more  than  I  merit.  The  western  counties  appointed 
their  Yearly  Meeting  at  Warwick  this  year.  It  was  large,  and, 
I  believe,  upon  the  whole,  satisfactory.  Catherine  Payton  had 
very  acceptable  service  ;  but,  between  ourselves,  I  had  a  pain- 
ful prospect  and  feeling  of  the  present  state  of  the  ministry 
amongst  us  ;  yea,  more  so  than  ever  before.    My  sister  Ann 


1 


276  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1756,  | 

met  me  at  Warwick,  and  I  went  with  her  to  London,  and  much  1 
rejoiced  to  see  her  and  the  Doctor,  not  solely  from  motives  of  ] 
natural  affection,  but  for  the  Truth's  sake  which  is  in  them  and  i 
in  which  I  hope  they  are  grown  in  my  absence.  May  the  Lord  \ 
of  perfection  carry  on  his  own  work,  until  they  and  we  are  en-  ] 
tire,  wanting  nothing.  It  is  many  years  since  I  was  in  that  ^ 
city,  at  any  other  time  than  at  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and  was  ^ 
pretty  much  a  stranger  to  the  state  of  things  amongst  them,  I 
which  I  found  lamentably  low ;  upon  a  view  of  those  who  .] 
might  be  instrumental  in  rebuilding  the  waste  places,  one  ' 
cannot  avoid  a  cry,  "  0  Lord,  by  whom  shall  Jacob  arise  V  \ 

I  found  in  almost  every  mind  a  secret  displeasure  against 
the  Friends  who  signed  the  epistle  of  caution  and  advice  ;  and 
fully  expected  to  be  tried  by  the  Meetings  of  Sufferings,  for  i 
being  concerned  in  it.  But  innocently  conscious  of  my  own 
and  friends'  integrity,  and  mindful  of  that  which  engaged  us,  I 
was  quiet,  and  yet  bold.  I  have  this  remark  to  make,  although 
subscribing  that  epistle  hath  made  me  the  butt  of  professor  and 
profane,  I  never  once  repented  it ;  I  believe  it  was  right,  and  ' 
leave  the  effect  to  Him,  whose  ways  are  unsearchable,  yet 
faithful,  just,  and  true. 

The  Friends  who  are  among  you  from  Europe,  will,  I  hope, 
be  guided  aright ;  they  have  great  need  to  ask  wisdom  of  Him 
whose  gifts  are  perfect  ;  many  here  expect  they  will  condemn 
that  epistle,  and  censure  the  Friends  who  signed  it ;  some  think 
otherwise  ;  but  it  is  the  promotion  of  Truth  itself,  (not  our 
names,  and  our  own  honour,)  my  soul  begs.  I  have  not  hitherto  i 
received  a  line  from  any  Friend  in  America,  except  two  from 
Rhode  Island.  You  are  many  of  you  very  near  to  my  life,  and 
fresh  in  remembrance :  methinks  I  should  be  sorry  to  be  entirely  - 
forgotten,  though  I  had  rather  that  was  the  case,  than  that  the  mes- 
sage I  had  to  deliver  in  my  Heavenly  Master's  name  should  be 
written  in  dust.  I  am  often  with  you  in  spirit  and  true  sympa- 
thy ;  the  clouds  seem  black,  and  filled  with  tempest ;  happy  is  it  ' 


I 


MTAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


277 


for  those  who  have  a  Refuge  to  flee  to  in  time  of  storm,  even 
the  ancient  enduring  fortress  of  the  righteous,  the  strong  tower 
of  David. 

This  nation  seems  in  a  ferment,  and  hkely  to  come  to  distress ; 
a  scarcity  of  bread,  and  various  losses  ;  a  divided  people,  and 
many  enemies  amongst  ourselves ;  and,  what  is  most  to  be  la- 
mented, our  crying  iniquities  cut  us  off  from  Divine  favour,  a.i 
it  may  justly  be  feared.  These  things  seem  to  me  to  portend 
a  cause  of  humiliation,  perhaps  more  awfully  alarming  than  any 
thing  we  have  long  met  with.  I  cannot  divest  myself  of  pain 
for  my  native  land,  as  an  inhabitant  of  it,  nor  yet  a  remember- 
ing our  multiplied  offences  against  the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth, 
or  desire  a  breach  in  the  uniformity  of  his  attributes,  by  his 
withholding  punishment  from  those  who  have  despised  and 
abused  his  mercies,  and  mocked  at  his  gentle  con-ection.  With 
respect  to  my  health,  it  is  not  so  good  as  in  your  country ;  a 
pretty  frequent  cause  of  complaint  in  my  breast  hath  attended 
me,  and  hath  been  one  cause  of  my  silence,  writing  much  be- 
ing painful. 

Our  honourable  and  aged  friend,  David  Hall,  departed  this 
life  a  few  weeks  ago,  having  been  some  time  indisposed,  but 
went  off  suddenly  at  last,  though  I  fully  believe  in  a  happy  pre- 
paration for  that  rest  which  is  glorious. 

I  must  draw  to  a  conclusion,  wuh  the  salutation  of  dear  love 
in  our  holy  Head  and  High  Priest,  which  extends  over  sea  and 
land,  and  is  stronger  than  death  ;  may  we  be  made  and  pre- 
served such  sanctified  vessels,  as  often  to  be  replenished  thereby, 
and  be  preserved,  in  times  of  withdrawing,  chaste  and  depend- 
ent, that  our  fruit  may  be  on  us  every  month,  in  the  variety  of 
seasons  in  the  Lord's  year.  My  dear  wife  is  bravely,  and  joins 
with  me  in  the  most  affectionate  lenders  of  true  love. 

Thine,  in  the  fellowship  of  the  hope  and  sufferings  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ, 

S.  F. 


278 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


SAMUEL  rOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  lOlh  Mc,  26lh,  1756. 

In  a  fresh  sense  of  that  love  and  pure  friendship  in 
which  our  spirits  have  been  at  times  mutually  refreshed  and 
united,  I  very  affectionately  salute  thee,  ardently  wishing  for 
thee,  as  for  myself,  an  increase  with  the  increase  of  God,  and 
that  whereunto  we  have  already  attained,  we  may  hold  fast 
without  wavering,  and  persevere  in  that  path  which  hath  been 
mercifully  cast  up  for  us,  and  is  indeed  the  path  of  peace. 

Many  are  the  difficulties  and  trials  through  which  lies  our 
passage  to  rest ;  and  that  the  souls  of  a  remnant  know  right  well. 
Yet  with  equal  certainty  have  they  to  rejoice  in  All-sufficiency , 
and  make  His  most  excellent  name  their  song  in  the  house  of 
their  pilgrimage.  The  main  and  proper  business  of  every  tra- 
veller, who  would  succeed  in  his  journey,  is  to  keep  close  to  his 
Guide,  whether  the  road  be  joyous  or  more  afflicting.  Some- 
times, by  endeavouring  to  take  a  shorter,  and  at  other  times  an 
easier  path,  people  have  insensibly  wandered  away;  and  gone 
on  without  going  forwards,  and  their  mistake  been  fatal.  Some- 
times a  smooth  path  has,  by  its  seeming  straight  direction,  and 
contiguity  to  the  right  one,  diverted  us  from  arduous  labour,  and 
we  have  been  induced  to  choose  present  ease,  at  the  expense  of 
true  peace ;  and  the  danger  of  final  miscarriage  hath  been  hid 
for  a  time,  but  at  last  appeared  with  awful  weight ;  happy  where 
timely  enough  to  retrieve  the  mistakes  resulting  from  former  in- 
dolence or  inattention.  We  live  in  a  benumbing  climate,  and 
every  hour  brings  with  it  a  torpedo,  to  stupify  our  right  hand. 
Though,  dear  friend,  I  am  not  jealous  of  any  peculiar  necessity 
for  the  application  of  the  above  hints  to  thee,  yet  I  am  so  con- 
scious of  their  relation  to  myself,  that  I  cannot  well  omit  them, 
as  they  flow  unsought  for,  not  unfelt. 

 That  ancient  cord  of  love,  which  binds  up  in  the 


^TAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


279 


heavenly  bundle  of  love  and  life,  is  often  around  my  spirit,  in 
sympathy  and  fellowship  with  some  of  yours  ;  though  a  debility 
of  mind  often  is  my  lot,  in  which  I  am  disqualified  from  much 
expression,  and  sometimes  have  no  right  to  express  any  thing. 
I  have  been  much  divested  of  the  sense  of  heavenly  treasure 
in  my  own  possession,  since  my  return,  but  am  thankful  for  a 
resigned,  quiet  spirit,  which  I  feel  is  not  insensible  stupidity  ; 
and  all  I  beg  for  is.  to  be  remembered  and  replenished,  in  the 
wise  proportions  of  His  knowledge,  who  keeps  the  windows  of 
heaven  shut  as  it  pleaseth  him,  and  opens  when  he  sees  meet. 
I  am  poor,  yet  not  void  of  hope  at  times,  and  I  thank  my  hea- 
venly Master  I  am  content.  I  rarely  open  my  slate,  but  to 
Hira  who  can  relieve  and  supply;  but  it  may  not  be  discoura- 
ging to  thee  to  know  there  are  others  poor  and  needy  besides 
thyself. 

We  seem  in  great  agitation  in  this  kingdom,  and  perhaps  on 
the  eve  of  some  national  calamity.  Few,  very  few,  lay  it  to 
heart.  Destruction  and  bloodshed  seem  the  principal  topic  of 
converse,  but  the  real  enemy  and  great  destroyer  is  cherished 
as  a  friend.  I  think  there  seems  an  increase  in  wickedness  in 
this  land,  and  it  appears  to  draw  fast  down  a  stroke  from  that 
Hand,  which  will  make  its  own  way  in  the  earth,  and  be  mag- 
nified in  righteousness.  I  do  not  expect  your  present  situation 
is  the  most  pleasing ;  but  oh  that  the  Rock  of  the  righteous, 
and  their  dwelling-place  throughout  all  generations,  may  be  our 
fortress,  for  the  clouds  seem  heavy  with  a  tempest. 

Dear  John,  thine  assured  friend, 

S.  F. 


280 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JAMES  WILSON* 
(The  original  is  in  the  possession  of  Thomas  Thompson,  Liverpool. — G.  C.) 

Warrington,  11th  Mo.,  9th,  1756. 

Dear  and  worthy  Friend, 

As  I  am  persuaded  thou  hast  greatly  at  heart  the 
welfare  of  Zion,  and  in  a  particular  manner  art  interested  in 
me,  having  discharged  the  office  of  a  father  to  me  in  my 
minority,  with  a  father's  regard  and  tenderness,  I  take  up 
my  pen  to  salute  thee  and  thy  dear  wife,  my  worthy  and 
honoured  friend,  whom  as  well  as  thyself,  I  still  remember 
with  distinguished,  yea,  filial  regard ;  and  can  assure  thee 
and  her,  though  I  have  not  made  man}'  professions  of  affection 

*  This  venerable  Friend  resided  near  Sedbergh,  but  in  his  latter  years 
he  lived  at  Kendal.  He  was  born  near  Kirby,  Lonsdale,  in  1677,  became 
convinced  of  the  principles  of  Friends,  and  when  about  thirty  years  of  age 
received  a  gift  in  the  ministry,  in  the  exercise  of  which  he  travelled  much 
in  England  and  Scotland,  and  was  frequently  engaged  in  holding  public 
meetings  in  many  places  where  no  meetings  of  Friends  had  been  ever  held 
before  ;  great  and  serviceable  were  his  labours  herein. 

He  had  to  pass  through  many  trials  and  afflictions,  both  inwardly  and 
outwardly,  under  which  he  was  sustained  with  much  resignation.  He  had 
nine  children,  and  many  grand-children,  all  of  whom  he  survived,  except- 
ing two  of  the  latter. 

A  few  years  before  his  death,  he  thus  wrote  : — "  I  am  now  waiting,  and 
"beseeching  God  Almighty  to  grant  me  the  continuance  of  his  blessed 
"  grace  and  Holy  Spirit,  to  aid  and  assist  me  in  a  full  preparation  for  death, 
"  and  calmly  to  resign  myself  to  it ;  and,  above  all,  to  grant  me  his  help  in 
"  tliat  painful  and  trying  season,  that  I  may  for  ever  praise  His  holy  name, 
"  who  is  for  ever  worthy,  with  his  dear  Son,  who  is  my  dear  and  blessed 
•'Saviour.  Amen! 

He  died  at  Kendal,  12lh  Month,  30th,  1769,  aged  92,  a  minister  60 
years. 


^TAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


281 


and  esteem,  there  are  few  living  to  whom  I  bear  an  equal  share, 
or  who  are  the  more  frequent  companions  of  my  most  affection- 
ate remembrance. 

A  variety  of  labour,  in  which  our  heavenly  and  blessed  Father 
hath  engaged  me,  hath  very  much  confined  my  mind  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  day,  and  rendered  it  necessary  for  friendship  to  give 
place  to  duty  ;  so  that  my  correspondence  hath  been  but  little, 
thou^jh  I  hope,  in  the  hidden  root  of  immortal  life,  I  am  made 
a  partaker  of  the  fellowship  of  the  brotherhood.  But  this,  with 
the  poverty  and  leanness  which  have  been  much  my  lot,  hath 
laid  the  finger  of  silence  upon  my  lips,  and  stopped  my  pen.  I 
thought  I  found  at  least  a  liberty  this  evening  to  assure  thee  of 
my  regard,  and  give  thee  some  little  account  of  myself,  my  la- 
bours abroad,  and  how,  upon  the  whole,  I  apprehend  the  stale 
of  the  Society  is  in  those  parts  where  my  lot  hath  been  cast. 
Through  mercy,  I  have  to  acknowledge  I  was  favoured  with  a 
more  confirmed  state  of  good  health  than  usual,  two  short  inter- 
ruptions excepted.  I  travelled  with  diligence,  and  at  times 
pretty  hard  labour  ;  and  as  I  passed  through  various  provinces, 
I  may  give  thee  a  hint  how  I  fared,  and  found  things  in  each. 

To  begin  with  Pennsylvania,  where  I  landed.  There  are  a 
very  great  body  of  people  who  bear  our  name,  and  many  who 
deserve  to  bear  it.  A  noble  seed,  of  several  classes  respecting 
age,  though  too  few  of  the  aged  amongst  them,  who  have  kept 
their  garments  clean,  and  whose  hands  are  strong.  Their  fathers 
came  into  the  country  in  its  infancy,  and  bought  large  tracts  of 
land  for  a  trifle ;  their  sons  found  large  estates  come  into  their 
possession,  and  a  profession  of  religion  which  was  partly  na- 
tional, which  descended  like  the  patrimony  from  their  fathers, 
and  cost  as  little.  They  settled  in  ease  and  affluence,  and 
whilst  they  made  the  barren  wilderness  as  a  fruitful  field,  suffer- 
ed  the  plantation  of  God  to  be  as  a  field  uncultivated,  and  a  de- 
sert. Thus,  decay  of  discipline  and  other  weakening  things  pre- 
vailed, to  the  eclipsing  of  Zion's  beauty  j  yet  was  there  a  noble 
37 


282 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


remnant,  whose  love  was  strong,  and  who  remembered  the  Lord 
of  the  whole  earth  and  his  house,  whilst  they  built  their  own. 

A  people  who  had  thus  beat  their  swords  into  plough-shares, 
with  the  bent  of  their  spirits  to  this  world,  could  not  instruct 
their  offspring  in  those  statutes  they  had  themselves  forgotten 
As  every  like  begets  its  like,  a  generation  was  likely  to  succeed, 
formed  upon  other  maxims,  if  the  everlasting  Father  had  jnot 
mercifully  extended  a  visitation,  to  supply  the  deficiency  of  their 
natural  parents. 

It  consisted  with  his  wisdom  and  mercy  to  reach  forth  a 
hand  of  love  to  many  of  them  of  the  younger  sort,  and  to 
subject  their  hearts  to  the  work  of  his  own  power ;  and  more 
especially  of  later  time,  he  hath  prevailed  upon  many  in  that 
province  ;  brought  some  into  the  ministry,  some  fitting  for  it ; 
and  I  trust  for  many,  who  are  like  the  little  sister,  who  hath 
no  breasts  to  give  to  others  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word, 
he  is  building  them  up  as  a  wall,  upon  which  a  palace  of 
silver  may  be  reared.  I  cannot  but  hope  in  that  province, 
particularly  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  it  may  be  said  Truth 
prospers,  and  there  is  a  prospect  that  the  succeeding  genera- 
tion may  excel  the  last.  I  visited  all  their  meetings,  not  as 
running  hastily  through  them,  but  with  great  circumspection, 
and  some  of  them  four,  five,  or  six  times  over,  being  desirous  to 
leave  them  in  peace. 

Maryland  is  poor ;  the  gain  of  oppression,  the  price  of 
blood  is  upon  that  province — I  mean  their  purchasing,  and 
keeping  in  slavery,  negroes — the  ruin  of  true  religion  the 
world  over,  wherever  it  prevails.  Friends  there  are  greatly 
decreased  in  number,  and  mixed  with  the  world,  in  whose 
spirit  they  dwell.  Their  unfaithfulness  to  their  testimony 
against  the  hireling  priests,  and  their  hands  polluted  with 
the  gains  of  unrighteousness,  have  almost  destroyed  even 
the  appearances  of  Truth  in  various  parts  ;  and  as  the  pure  gift 
of  the  ministry  cannot  be  communicated  to  such  unclean 
vessels,  there  is  a  great  scarcity  of  ministers.     I  know  not 


jETAT.  40.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


283 


more  than  two  in  the  province  on  wliom  is  the  heavenly 
stamp  visible, and  ihey  arc  ncilher  negro-keepers  nor  priest- 
payers.  Nevertheless,  in  this  Sardis  the  blessed  Hand  is  at 
work.  Some  are  lately  convinced,  and  among  the  rising 
3''oulh  are  some  of  the  true  Hebrew  race,  who  have  heard  the 
alarm  of  the  heavenly  trumpet,  and  come  out  of  their  dens  and 
caves. 

This  very  much  describes  also  the  state  of  Virginia  ;  only  I 
think  I  may  add,  the  visitation  of  Divine  truth  seems  more  effect- 
ually received  in  various  parts  of  this  province  than  the  former, 
and  a  spring  of  living  ministry  to  edification ;  but  here  the  youth 
are  those  whom  the  King  of  heaven  delights  to  honour. 

North  Carolina  is  the  next.  There  are  a  great  many  Friends 
in  a  part  of  it  contiguous  to  Virginia ;  some  truly  valuable 
Friends,  but  few ;  yet  many  who  offer  a  sacrifice  of  that  which 
cost  them  nothing.  The  largest  body  of  Friends  here  seems  to 
me  the  weakest ;  they  have  been  a  lively  people,  but  negro 
purchasing  comes  more  and  more  in  use  amongst  them,  and  the 
pure  life  of  Truth  will  ever  proportionably  decay.  I  travelled 
1200  miles  in  this  province,  amongst  Friends  and  others,  and 
found  some  brethren  and  true  members  ingrafted  into  the  Vine  ; 
though  worldly-mindedness  and  lukewarmness  have  seized 
upon  many. 

South  Carolina  hath  only  two  meetings ;  one  at  Charleston, 
where  there  are  few  who  bear  our  name,  and  fewer  who  de- 
serve it ;  yet  such  is  the  force  of  our  Divine  testimony,  as  to 
gain  place  among  the  people.  I  had  several  very  open  meet- 
ings there,  particularly  two  in  the  Baptist  meeting-house,  to 
great  satisfaction.  The  principal  people  of  the  province  at- 
tended, and  the  Lord  of  all  mercies  magnified  his  eternal  name. 
The  other  is  130  miles  distant;  a  pretty  settlement  of  Friends, 
mostly  from  Ireland. 

I  went  thence  to  Georgia,  and  had  a  large  meeting  in  the 
court-houes,  and  some  opportunities,  in  the  inn  where  I  lodged, 
to  some  service,  though  there  were  not  any  there  who  bore 
our  name. 


284 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


I  returned  through  the  several  provinces,  as  Truth  opened 
my  way  ;  had  sundry  meetings  in  the  county  court-houses,  and 
Sonne  of  their  places  of  worship  ;  and  finished  my  visit  to 
Friends,  where  I  had  omitted  any  meetings  in  my  going  south  ; 
and  upon  my  return  rested  a  few  days  at  Philadelphia. 

The  Jerseys  were  the  next  in  course  ;  I  had  much  close  labour 
there  ;  there  is  a  valuable  body  of  Friends,  but  much  chaff, 
though  I  trust  things  are  upon  the  revival.  Long  Island 
contains  a  great  body  of  Friends  ;  some  truly  valuable,  but  the 
more  aged  have  not  walked  as  bright  examples  ;  the  leaders 
of  the  people  have  caused  them  to  err.  I  visited  this  island 
four  tinnes,  and  left  it  at  last  with  a  pained  heart,  to  which  the 
want  of  a  hopeful  prospect  of  things  being  better  greatly  con- 
tributed. 

Narraganset  and  Rhode  Island  were  then  in  my  course.  I 
had  much  close  labour  amongst  them ;  this  world  has  inter- 
cepted their  prospect  of  a  better,  and  greatly  impaired  that 
beauty  which  once  rested  on  them,  or  their  ancestors,  though  I 
hope  there  remains  a  little  remnant  upright,  with  their  lamps 
trimmed  and  burning.  But,  alas  !  the  number  of  the  faithful  is 
there  but  as  the  gleaning  of  the  vintage  ;  I  met  with  few  places 
more  discouraging.  Thence,  I  went  to  Nantucket,  a  late  plan- 
tation in  comparison  with  many  others,  but  too  few  there  have 
kept  their  first  love  ;  divisions  and  contentions,  the  certain  com- 
panions of  the  spirit  of  this  world,  have  hurt  them ;  and  as 
these  have  subsisted  amongst  the  leaders  of  the  people,  their 
example  hath  been  injurious  to  others.  Yet,  even  here,  hope 
remained,  from  a  prospect  of  a  rising  generation  coming  up,  to 
assert  a  testimony  their  fathers  have  forgotten  or  neglected. 

Boston  government  was  the  next  place  where  I  found 
continual  occasion  of  sorrow,  yet  intermixed  with  some  hope. 
I  had  abundant  labour,  both  with  the  natural  branches  of 
the  olive-tree,  and  those  without.  In  that  Aceldama,  or 
field  of  blood,  I  was  greatly  favoured,  in  many  open  and 
very  large  meetings,  to  publish  the  everlasting  Gospel  with 


^TAT.  40.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


2S5 


some  success,  to  my  humble  admiration,  and  thankful  acknow- 
ledgment to  the  ever  worthy  Name.  The  stale  of  the  Society 
in  this  province  is  affecting.  What  open  persecution  could  not 
effect,  has  been  too  fully  accomplished  by  the  caresses  and 
favours  extended  to  Friends  there  ;  nevertheless,  there  are  a 
body  of  lively  Friends  up  and  down,  who,  I  trust,  walk  in  white. 

I  returned  through  Narraganset,  Rhode  Island,  and  Long 
Island,  into  New  York  government ;  where,  though  cause  of 
sorrow  appeared,  yet  it  was  not  void  of  hope  for  many  amongst 
them,  whose  faces  are  set  Zionwards.  In  the  city  of  New  York 
is  a  small,  but  very  valuable  body  of  Friends,  who  grow  in  the 
Truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

I  returned  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  Philadelphia,  Ninth 
Month,  1755,  which  was  very  large,  and  truly  comfortable. 
The  winter  I  spent  in  close  labour  in  Pennsylvania,  and  through 
Jersey,  to  my  relief  and  ease  of  spirit.  And  although  very 
painful  baptisms  attended  me,  yet  the  overshadowing  of  a  rock 
which  was  higher  than  I,  preserved  in  summer's  heat  and 
winter's  storms  ;  and  graciously  supplied  for  every  time  of 
want ;  and  mercifully  sustained  with  ability  to  bring  forth  fruit 
in  every  month,  throughout  the  revolution  of  the  Lord's  glorious 
year. 

I  mention  it  to  the  praise  of  his  most  excellent  name,  for 
righteousness  belongs  to  him,  but  to  me  blushing  and  confu- 
sion of  face  ;  inward  and  outward  salvation  was  the  merciful 
and  unmerited  bounty  of  his  hand  :  he  stayed  me  in  humble 
reverence,  when  I  came  to  the  festival  days  of  Mount  Zion, 
and  preserved  me  in  patience,  when  I  pensively  mused  on  the 
scroll,  written  within  and  without,  with  mourning,  lamentation, 
and  wo. 

Excuse  the  tediousness  of  this  epistle.  I  did  not  expect  it 
when  I  sat  down  ;  but  my  heart  is  touched  with  a  lively  sense 
of  Divine  condescension,  and  gratefully  worships  Him,  not  one 
of  whose  words  hath  fallen  to  the  ground.  I  have  nothing  to 
glory  in,  and  am  weak  ;  I  have  known  strength.    I  am  foolish, 


286 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


I  have  been  helped  with  wisdom.  I  am  poor,  but  have  been 
enriched.  The  rod  I  have  often  merited  ;  the  staff  hath  been 
often  revealed.  I  have  nothing;  I  am  nothing;  let  the  gain 
and  praise  be  consecrated  to  Him,  whose  is  the  fulness  of  all 
wisdom,  riches,  and  strength. 

Farewell,  my  dear  and  honourable  friend.  May  that  arm 
which  hath  been  thy  succour,  and  the  strentgh  of  thy  youth 
and  middle  age,  be  near  in  the  decline  of  life,  perfect  every 
thing  necessary  to  be  done  to  qualify  for  converse  with  the 
saints  in  light,  and  keep  by  its  mighty  power  to  the  last 
moment.  May  the  close  of  thy  well-run  race  be  joyful :  and 
when  access  is  vouchsafed  to  the  throne  of  grace,  remember 
poor  me,  who  may  have  yet  a  larger  portion  of  the  slippery 
course  before  me,  that  I  may  be  enabled  so  to  run  as  to  obtain, 
and  be  preserved  a  monument  of  unutterable  mercy  to  the 
end. 

Thy  very  affectionate  friend. 


THOMAS  GAWTHORP  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Blackwater,  in  Virginia,  12th  Mo.,  8th,  1756. 

 I  should  have  been  glad  to  have  seen  thee 

before  thou  left  this  continent,  but  it  seems  to  me  it  was  for 
the  best  that  we  had  no  personal  communion  with  each  other, 
for  some  in  Nantucket  were  so  weak  as  to  imagine  I  had  seen 

the  letter  thou  wrote  to  Friends  there  The  difference  is 

not  closed,  and  I  fear  it  will  be  to  the  hurt  of  many. 

Thy  labour  for  the  renewing  of  the  discipline  seems  to 
gall  many  stubborn  ones,  but  causeth  joy  to  those  who  are 


iETAT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


287 


bowed  in  spirit  for  Zion's  welfare  ;  so  that  there  is  hope  Truth 
may  yet  gain  the  ascendancy,  and  the  Church,  which  long  hath 
had  her  place  in  the  wilderness,  as  a  lily  amongst  thorns,  will, 
in  the  husband's  time,  become  the  beauty  of  nations,  and  Jeru- 
salem the  praise  of  the  whole  earth. 

Friends  were  much  distressed  about  training,  in  New  Eng- 
land and  New  York  governments  ;  and  though  some  could  not 
suffer,  yet  a  good  number  were  faithful  in  the  testimony  they 
were  called  to  bear  on  behalf  of  their  Lord  ;  who  said,  My 
kingdom  is  not  of  this  world  ;  if  it  were,  then  would  my  ser- 
vants fight,  that  I  should  not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews  ;"  so  that 
if,  as  servants  of  Christ,  they  could  not  fight  for  their  Master's 
life,  much  less  for  their  own  lives  ;  and  if  not  fight,  not  train, 
nor  pay  others  to  do  that  for  them,  which  they  believe  they 
should  not  do  either  for  their  Master  or  themselves.  It  is  likely 
the  slate  of  Pennsylvania  will  be  given  thee  by  another  hand, 
yet  thus  much  I  may  say,  the  Yearly  Meeting  was  a  good, 
profitable  meeting  to  many. 

I  hope  thou  wilt  sometimes  remember  me,  a  poor  traveller 
in  these  perilous  times,  with  desires  that  fortitude  and  wisdom 
from  on  high  may  be  my  armour,  whilst  I  have  to  pass  through 
the  broken  ranks  of  these  hosts,  where  sword  is  set  against 
sword,  and  the  divisions  are  so  great,  even  amongst  the  first 
born  of  the  sons  of  Jacob  ;  for  which  my  heart  and  bowels  are 
pained  within  me. 

Thomas  Gawthorp. 

Thomas  Gawthorp,  a  fellow  labourer  with  Samuel  Fother- 
gill,  in  America,  was  born  at  Skipton,  in  1709.  His  father 
dying  when  he  was  young,  he  was  put  out  an  apprentice  ;  and 
meeting  with  severe  treatment,  he,  to  get  free  from  it,  enlisted 
into  the  army. 

Whilst  in  that  service,  he  attended  a  meeting  at  Skipton, 
wherein  his  mind  was  so  affected  by  the  powerful  ministry  of 
Mary  Slater,  that  from  that  time  forward  he  continued  to  attend 


288 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


Friends'  meetings  as  opportunities  offered,  and  was  brought  into 
great  exercise  of  mind  on  account  of  his  situation  ;  yet  he  was 
not  at  liberty  to  have  his  discharge  purchased,  fearing  that  he 
might  not  stand  his  ground  :  one  of  the  officers,  observing  his 
distress,  made  liim  an  offer  of  his  release,  upon  payment  of  the 
money  paid  to  him  when  he  enlisted  ;  this,  on  solid  considera- 
tion, he  accepted,  and  left  the  army. 

Soon  after  this  he  married  Isabel  Crosfield,  and  settled  near 
Kendal,  and  in  a  short  time  came  fortli  in  the  ministry  ;  "  his 
"  mind  being  devoted  to  the  service  of  his  great  Master,  and 
"  obedient  to  the  manifestations  of  Truth,  he  grew  in  the  gift 
"  received,  and  became  a  deep  and  able  minister  of  the  gospel  ; 
"  diligently  labouring,  in  the  openings  of  life,  for  the  exaltation 
"  of  Truth  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,"  often  having  close  and 
pertinent  counsel  to  deliver,  well  adapted  to  their  different 
states ;  "  not  in  the  wisdom  of  man,  nor  in  the  eloquence  of 
"  words,  but  in  the  simplicity  of  the  gospel,  and  with  the  demon- 
"  stration  of  Divine  authority.  He,  nevertheless,  often  found 
"  it  his  place  to  repress  a  too  eager  desire  after  words,  by  setting 
"  an  example  of  humble  and  awful  worship  in  solemn  silence." 

He  several  times  visited  many  parts  of  this  nation,  Scotland, 
and  Ireland.  He  also  visited  Friends  in  America  four  times  : 
from  the  last  of  these  visits  he  returned  "  much  reduced  in 
"  bodily  strength  ;  but  he  was  preserved  in  much  peace,  being 
"  clothed  with  innocency  and  sweetness,  quietly  waiting  for  his 
"  change,  and  having  an  evidence  that  his  day's  work  was  nearly 
"  accomplished."  He  departed  this  life  the  29th  of  Ninth 
Month,  1780,  aged  about  seventy-one,  a  minister  forty-seven 
years. 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter,  written  at  the  time  of 
Thomas  Gawthorp's  last  return  from  America,  in  1778,  gives 
some  further  particulars  of  him,  and  of  the  situation  of  affairs  in 
Philadelphia : — 

"William  Dillworlh  brought  my  brother,  Thomas  Gaw- 


^TAT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


289 


"  thorp,  home  in  a  chaise  ;  he  was  very  feeble,  he  can  neither 
"  write,  nor  in  any  way  use  his  right  hand.  He  says  he  was 
"  twenty-seven  days  on  his  passage  from  Philadelphia  to  Fal- 
"  mouth  ;  he  was  in  the  former  place  when  Washington  and 
"  his  army  were  in  it,  also  after  he  left  it,  and  William  Howe 
"  took  possession  of  it  without  any  opposition,  many  of  the  in- 
"  habitants  rejoicing,  though  they  had  little  left  to  give  them, 
"  wanting  almost  every  thing  necessary  for  the  support  of  the 
"  body ;  beef  and  mutton  sold  at  half-a-crown  and  three  shilUngs 
"  per  pound,  and  other  things  in  proportion.  Before  he  left  the 
"  place,  four  pins  sold  for  a  halfpenny,  and  Friends  wished  to 
"  have  bought  him  two  yeirds  of  flannel  to  put  about  him  at  sea, 
"  but  could  not  get  it.  He  says  his  son  James,  who  is  settled 
"  in  Virginia,  suffered  much,  and  for  refusing  to  muster  when 
"  required  by  the  Provincials,  he  was  taken  and  marched  200 
"  miles,  to  Philadelphia,  with  his  hands  tied  behind  him  and  a 
"  gun  on  his  back  ;  he  was  not  kept  long,  but  sent  home  again, 
"  but  was  not  allowed  to  see  his  father,  though  then  in  Phila- 
"  delphia." — {Letter  from  Geo.  Crosfield,  Westmoreland,  to  his 
"  son  Geo.  Crosfield,  Warrington,  1778.) 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  12th  Mo.,  8th,  1756. 

A  time  of  deep  poverty  and  leanness,  in  which  it  hath 
pleased  the  Heavenly  Father  I  should  be  much  exercised  since 
my  return,  might  plead  my  excuse  were  I  silent.  But  I  wish 
to  assure  thee  of  my  very  near  regard,  however  poor  and  worth- 
less I  am  :  and  indeed,  I  think,  at  times,  I  see  a  wisdom  unut- 
terable in  the  most  stripping  times  which  are  allotted,  when  we 
sit  alone  and  hold  our  peace,  for  our  houses  would  never  be  so 
carefully  swept  and  searched,  if  we  had  the  ten  pieces  of  silver 
in  constant  possession  and  view.  I  am,  however,  humbly  con- 
tent; I  dare  not  complain,  it  is  not  lawful.  There  is  a  just  oc 
38 


290 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


casion  administered  by  the  inadvertence  of  the  past,  or  for  ihe 
instruction  of  the  future  part  of  Hfe. 

It  consists  with  His  wisdom,  who  is  perfect  in  knowledge,  to 
balance  our  steps  in  righteousness  ;  he  wisely  ascertains  the 
bounds  of  day  and  night ;  the  hilly  rugged  path  and  painful 
steps,  the  smooth  part  also  of  our  race,  are  all  planned  in  a 
knowledge  too  great  for  our  present  comprehension.  Here  may 
we  reverently  acknowledge  our  incapacity  for  choosing  right  for 
ourselves,  and  commit  our  all  into  his  hand,  as  into  the  liand  of 
a  faithful  and  good  preserver.  In  the  midst  of  his  attributes  of 
glory  and  majesty,  there  is  to  be  read  the  excellent  name  of 
most  merciful  Father ;  but  this  only  when  he  gives  vision  to  the 
eye  he  has  formed  ;  until  then,  who  is  so  poor  and  blind  as  his 
servant  ? 

May  that  Hand  which  hath  led  and  sustained  thee  hitherto  in 
slippery  paths,  from  thy  youth  upwards,  for  such  hath  thy  pil- 
grimage led  through,  be  thy  staff  during  the  residue  of  thy  pas- 
sage; that  by  his  help  thou  may  offer  an  evening  sacrifice  of 
praise,  and  say.  Oh  !  Lord,  thou  hast  been  with  me  from  my 
youth  to  this  hour. 

Our  worthy  friends  A.  Farrington,  and  S.  Emlen,  have  been 
at  my  house  a  week  ;  the  former  has  gone  to  visit  a  neighbour- 
ing county.  I  believe  he  will  have  great  and  good  service 
amongst  us.  S.  Emlen  is  not,  at  present,  fit  for  much  travel- 
ling, and  is  advised  to  lay  by  ;  I  hope  for  his  company  at  my 
house  this  ensuing  winter. 

I  have  not  been  favoured  with  a  line  from  Pennsylvania  since 
I  left  it ;  I  am  not  distressed  about  it;  may  the  message  have 
its  proper  weight,  and  I  care  not  if  the  messenger  be  forgotten. 
I  have,  nevertheless,  heard  with  sorrow  of  your  distress,  and  the 
slaughter  on  your  confines.  I  think  the  clouds  are  heavy  with 
a  storm  towards  various  parts  of  the  British  empire  ;  scarcity  of 
bread  threatens  us  here,  and  is  already  severely  felt  by  the  poor 
in  many  parts  of  this  land  

S.  F. 


JET  AT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


291 


At  the  close  of  the  year  1756,  and  during  the  winter,  there 
was  much  distress  amongst  the  poor  in  Warrington,  (as  well  as 
in  many  other  places,)  owing  to  the  high  price  of  provisions,  and 
insufficient  employment :  the  sufferings  of  his  neighbours  excit- 
ed the  compassion  of  Samuel  Fothergill,  and  he  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing address,  in  which  he  adverts  also  to  the  circumstance 
of  the  town  being  then  encumbered  with  a  company  of  itinerant 
stage  players. 

The  address  was  published  anonymously,  but  it  effected  the 
removal  of  those  people  from  the  town,  and  caused  a  subscrip- 
tion to  be  raised  for  the  relief  of  the  suffering  part  of  the 
inhabitants. 

A  feiv  Hints  addressed  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Warrington, 

1756. 

The  present  distress  of  our  poor  neighbours  justly  demands 
our  attention,  and  ought  to  excite  in  our  minds  a  proper  dispo- 
sition to  relieve  them,  accompanied  with  gratitude  to  that  kind 
Providence  who  hath  made  us  to  differ  one  from  another. 

Sympathy  with  the  distressed  is  a  painful  yet  pleasing  sensa- 
tion, to  those  who  consider  the  social  duties  of  life  neces- 
sary to  be  sustained  with  propriety,  as  one  step  towards  a  fel- 
lowship hereafter,  every  consideration  should  induce  us  to  aspire 
after. 

If  we  are  blessed  with  hearts  susceptible  of  such  impressions, 
to  mitigate  their  distress  will  necessarily  be  our  endeavour,  if 
happily  their  burden  maybe  made  lighter  through  our  assistance. 

These  remarks  arise  from  the  general  complaints  and  cries 
of  our  suffering  poor,  which  indeed  are  loud  and  piercing, 
through  the  want  of  bread.  Circumstances  the  most  painful, 
where  not  a  few  parents,  after  the  labour  of  the  day  are  com- 
pelled to  hear,  without  any  possibility  of  relief,  the  piteous 
cries  of  their  children  for  bread  ;  alas  !  they  are  not  able  to  pro- 
cure it  for  them. 


292 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1756. 


That  this  is  the  state  of  many  amongst  us,  is  a  most  painful, 
certain  truth  ;  though  perhaps,  neither  thought  of,  nor  attended 
to  by  many,  who  in  fulness  of  bread  and  ease,  forget  the  anxi- 
ety of  the  poor. 

What  attempts  have  we  made  to  relieve  them,  and  mitigate 
their  sorrow  and  suflfering  ? 

I  wish  I  could  give  a  detail  of  many  : — are  the  inhabitants 
unable  to  administer  relief  to  their  poor  neighbors?  are  their 
circumstances  such  as  to  render  it  difficult  for  them  to  sustain 
the  necessary  duties  of  society  ? 

1  believe  otherwise. 

Have  we  not  had  amongst  us,  for  many  weeks^  a  gang  of 
players,  vagabonds,  declared  such  by  the  laws  of  the  land  ! 
Cannot  we  find  money  enough  to  squander  upon  them,  to  sup- 
ply their  luxury,  and  pay  them  for  corrupting  our  youth  ? 

We  can  spare,  as  I  am  credibly  informed,  from  eight  to  fif- 
teen pounds  per  night,  supporting,  at  the  expense  probably  of 
£100,  these  vagabonds,  in  defiance  of  every  awful  sanction  of 
laws,  Divine  and  human ;  and  yet  hear  unmoved  the  cries,  and 
see  the  tears,  of  our  starving  poor,  who  mourn  for  the  relief  we 
thus  lavish  away. 

Is  this  a  loan  to  the  Lord  we  might  hope  himself  would 
repay  1 

Who  will  hesitate  a  moment,  upon  reflection,  whether  it  be 
not  more  consistent  with  our  duty  and  interest  to  turn  this 
stream  of  profusion  into  the  families  of  the  poor  ;  to  banish  this 
nuisance  from  amongst  us  ;  prove  ourselves  capable  of  rational 
and  religious  considerations ;  and  thereby  will  be  suggested  to  us, 
in  a  time  of  need,  the  calm,  peaceful  evidence  of  our  having 
been  good  stewards  of  the  manifold  mercies  of  God. 

Inquire  not  who  is  the  author  of  these  remarks,  but  whether 
they  are  true. 

Philanthropos. 


^TAT.  41.] 


OP  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


293 


JOHN  PEMBERTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  1st  Mo.,  11th,  1757. 

Our  Yearly  Meeting  at  Burlington  was  a  time  of  great 
favour  to  the  upright.  Honest  Thomas  Gawthorp  was  there, 
and  had  some  very  satisfactory  opportunities  in  public.  In  the 
Meeting  of  Ministers,  John  Churchman  told  me,  he  thought 
him  equal  at  least  to  any  he  had  ever  heard.  In  the  meetings 
for  discipline,  he  was  several  times  singularly  favoured  ;  but  it 
is  not  often  he  is  permitted  thus  to  ascend  :  his  path  is  trodden 
by  few,  and  he  is  often  reduced  so  low,  both  in  body  and  mind, 
as  to  be  scarce  able  to  keep  on  his  feet. 

The  eye  that  is  still  over  us  for  good,  directed  through  the 
service  of  that  meeting  in  a  manner  not  to  be  forgotten  ;  it  be- 
gan sooner  and  lasted  longer  than  usual,  and  though  many 
seemed  to  come  prepared  for  war,  yet  the  spirit  of  the  Lamb 
was  victorious,  that,  without  much  argument  or  controversy, 
the  mouths  of  gainsayers  were  stopped,  and  the  authority  of 
Truth  presided  remarkably  to  the  conclusion  ;  which  was  a 
little  sooner  than  would  have  been  chosen,  if  the  burial  of  our 
worthy  friend,  John  Evans,  had  not  engaged  many  of  us  to 
assent  to  it.  That  good  man  had  a  time  of  close  sifting  and 
probation  on  his  death  bed  ;  I  went  with  Daniel  Stanton  to  visit 
him  a  few  days  before  he  died,  and  found  him  low,  dejected, 
and  distressed.  This  should  excite  alarming  considerations  in 
some  of  us,  who  are  conscious  how  vastly  deficient  we  are  of 
the  attainments  which  he  had  experienced ;  yet,  alas  !  I  must 
confess  we  lay  it  too  little  to  heart. 

John  Pemberton. 


294 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


LYDIA  LANCASTER  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Lancaster,  1st  Mo.,  23d,  1757. 

 That  pure  love  which  I  often  feel  bubbling  up  to- 
ward thee  in  the  spring  of  Divine  life,  engages  me  to  send  a 
few  lines  beseeching  thy  acceptance,  as  I  know  we  have  an  en- 
deared affection  for  each  other,  grounded  in  and  upon  that  an- 
cient Root,  which  hath  hitherto  borne  up  and  been  the  support 
of  us  and  of  all  tlie  faithful,  through  the  various  tribulations  of  our 
march  ;  and  lest  our  grand  adversary,  under  any  disguise,  should 
get  one  step  in  upon  any  of  us,  to  deprive  us  of  that  free  partak- 
ing of  the  sap,  and  virtue,  and  nourishment  which  this  heavenly 
root  affords,  I  have  made  a  narrow  search  and  close  examina- 
tion of  myself  and  inward  condition,  with  as  much  singleness 
and  impartiality  as  I  was  capable  of,  for  I  was  ready  to  think 
thou  had  not  such  full  unity  with  me,  nor  indeed  with  few  of  us, 
as  used  to  be  ;  and  I  could  tell  no  reason  for  it,  except  that  we 
could  not  all  see  and  think  alike  about  some  new  proposals,  and 
in  this  we  did  not  play  the  hypocrite,  but  spoke  freely,  and  I  be- 
lieve in  much  love  and  friendship  ;  I  am  sure  I  did,  for  it  is  the 
way  Truth  leads  me,  whether  I  may  be  the  better  or  worse 
thought  of  for  so  doing  ;  and  after  I  have  spoken  my  mind,  do 
think  myself  clear,  not  bearing  any  grudge,  or  harbouring  any  ill 
opinion  respecting  those  who  may  not  at  that  time  see  as  I  do  ; 
but  I  search  my  belief  over  again,  whether  they  or  I  was  in  the 
right,  for  we  none  of  us  plead  infallibility,  or  desire  any  should 
pin  their  faith  upon  us,  but  desire  all  may  see  for  themselves, 
and  see  right ;  so  leave  such  things  as  cannot  at  that  time  be  ac- 
complished by  love,  nor  strive  too  much,  nor  over-drive  any  of 
the  flock,  lest  thereupon  they  should  sicken  and  die,  for  all  are  not 
of  one  strength,  and  yet  with  care,  time,  and  paiience,  may  so 
run  as  to  accomplish  their  journey.  We  read,  the  Apostle  Paul 
was  not  only  strong,  but  skilful  also,  in  spreading  the  Gospel 


^TAT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


295 


net,  becoming  weak  with  the  weak,  taking  their  pace  in  a  gen- 
tle manner,  whereby  he  caught  many. 

I  hope  it  is  far  remote  from  my  heart's  intention  to  daub 
any  stone  in  God's  Zion  with  untempered  mortar,  or  to  heal  any 
wound  of  sin  deceitfully,  but  I  find  as  it  was  love  ever  raised 
and  made  any  of  us  instruments  of  service  in  the  house,  so  it 
is  by  our  abiding  under  the  same  influence  that  the  body  comes 
to  be  edified,  and  to  grow  from  one  degree  of  strength  to  another, 
and  to  be  changed  from  one  measure  of  clearness  in  understand- 
ing, brightness,  and  glory  to  another  ;  and  though  thou  may 
think  our  meeting  worse  than  it  was  a  few  years  since,  I  own 
myself  to  be  of  another  judgment,  both  respecting  aged  and 
young  ;  but  I  may  be  mistaken,  so  shall  leave  it  for  time  and 
truth  to  determine,  and  with  a  heart  fruitful  in  love  to  thee,  my 
beloved  and  valuable  friend,  and  thy  dear  wife,  I  now  conclude, 
and  remain  thy  real,  true,  and  constant  friend, 

Lydia  Lancaster. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ELLEN  EVANS. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  4lh,  1757. 

That  aflfeclionate  regard  which  Truth  itself  raised  mu- 
tually in  our  hearts,  is  by  no  means  impaired.  Often,  very  of- 
ten, since  I  left  your  land,  has  it  been  strongly  revived,  and 
more  especially  so  upon  receiving  the  sorrowful  tidings  of  the 
removal  of  thy  dear  husband,  a  circumstance  in  which  the  af- 
fliction is,  like  the  loss,  very  extensively  felt.  Thou  mournest 
the  loss  of  a  tender  husband  ;  his  children,  that  of  an  affection- 
ate father  ;  the  church  laments  a  pillar  removed  from  the  place 
it  filled,  at  a  time  when  such  are  greatly  wanted.  A  sorrow  al- 
lowable— for  the  perfect  example  of  every  virtue,  even  Jesus 
wept  for  Lazarus; — this,  nature  demands,  when  its  connexions 
are  broken,  and  the  endearing  social  ties  dissolved  :  but  thou 
well  knowest,  and  I  hope  it  now  stands  thee  in  stead,  that  we  are 
all  pilgrims  and  strangers,  as  our  fathers  were,  each  journeying 


1 


296  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1757. 

on  through  this  region  of  distress,  towards  that  city  which  hath  ' 
foundations.  Why  should  we  grieve  too  much,  when  a  com- 
panion with  whom  we  have  travelled  many  dubious,  anxious 
steps,  has  an  entrance  granted  him  into  the  holy  city  a  few  mo-  ' 
ments  before  us,  and  enjoys  consummate  felicity,  whilst  we 
stand  at  the  door  and  wait  also  for  the  same  fruition,  of  which 
at  times  we  receive  the  earnest  ? 

Upon  all  the  glory  of  the  earth,  and  all  its  enjoyments,  upon  | 
every  visible  thing,  one  inscription  is  written,  as  the  immutable  | 
law  and  determination  of  Him  whose  name  is  the  Most  High,  i 
"  They  shall  perish."  Throughout  all  nature  and  natural  con-  j 
nexions,  however  endearing,  it  has  been  and  must  be  verified.  | 
Equally  fixed  is  the  subsequent  truth,  the  joy  and  song  of  many  ' 
generations,  "But  thou  remainest."  On  this  everlasting  Hus- 
band, Father,  Friend,  and  Succour  may  thou  and  thine  now  lean, 
and  know  this  dispenstion  sanctified  and  blessed  to  all  your  help,  j 
in  renewing  diligent  care  so  to  live  and  move,  that  when  the  j 
Great  Shepherd  shall  appear,  and  all  his  faithful  servants  with  \ 
him,  your  portion  may  be  among  them  for  ever,  j 

And  now,  I  cannot  avoid  addressing  myself  to  you,  the  de-  j 
scendants  of  my  honoured,  because  honourable  friend.     I  am  j 
convinced  the  same  gracious  Hand  which  was  his  support  and  I 
comfort,  has  been  near  to  some  of  you  for  the  like  glorious  pur- 
pose, even  to  establish  you  before  him  for  ever.  But  I  am  jealous 
that  the  want  of  religious  depth,  and  simplicity  God-ward,  hath  , 
been  the  cause  of  halting,  and  rather  a  choosing  to  embrace  the  ] 
present  world,  and  have  a  name  eminent  in  it,  than  to  have  a 
new  name,  the  name  of  God,  and  of  ihe  city  of  God.    Thus  will 
the  heavenly  tenders  of  immortal  treasure  be  disregarded,  and 
the  vain  shadows  of  things  be  preferred  to  those  true  riches, 
which  none  ever  sought  with  too  great  diligence,  or  if  they  ^ 
sold  them,  ever  got  their  worth  in  exchange.    A  heart  honest-  j 
ly  concerned  for  your  help  cannot  contain  or  dictate  flattery  ;  I  | 
love  you  dearly,  therefore  thus  I  write.    I  am  also  persuaded  ^ 
there  is  a  seed  and  heritage  that  mourns  in  secret,  because  of  its  i 


^TAT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


297 


leanness,  and  lionestly  seeks  relief  whence  it  hath  ever  sprung. 
May  stability  and  patience  be  the  girdle  of  their  loins,'  and  in 
the  Lord's  time  this  poor,  suppliant,  distressed  seed  will  delight 
itself  in  fatness. 

One  general  hint  from  my  own  experience,  and  the  parity  of 
our  states,  would  I  suggest  to  you  young  people.  Let  all  your 
conduct  demonstrate  that  you  remember  the  worthy  deceased 
with  due  affection,  and  though  he  be  dead  with  respect  to  the 
body,  yet  let  him  speak.  I  have  found  it  my  duty  and  great 
advantage  to  place  in  view  my  worthy  father,  and  in  matters  of 
importance,  or  dubious  cases,  to  consult  what  would  have  pleased 
him,  who  was  ripe  in  experience  and  judgment.  I  believe  this 
reverence  to  the  memory  of  a  woi'thy  and  religious  parent,  is 
an  oblation  of  sweet  incense  before  the  Everlasting  Father. 

Farewell,  dear  Ellen  ;  may  Israel's  Rock  be  thy  safe  abode, 
and  keep  thee  fresh  in  spirit,  green  and  fruitful  in  old  age,  and 
unite  thee  to  Him,  and  the  many  generations  of  the  just,  who 
are  entered  within  the  pearl  gates. 

Farewell,  ye  descendants  of  the  great  and  good ;  imitate  their 
example  ;  as  they  followed  Jesus  Christ,  follow  ye  them.  Be 
wise,  for  it  is  true  happiness  :  in  wisdom  you  will  fear  to  offend, 
and  this  fear  is  an  excellent  defence. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  4th,  1757. 
As  the  love  I  bear  thee  is  sincere,  I  flatter  myself  it 
is  reciprocal.    I  know  thy  engagements  are  various,'!  also  know 
my  own  unworthiness  to  engross  time  which  may  be  spent 
more  usefully. 

I  think  I  am  profited  by  the  general  silence  of  my 

acquaintance  on  your  side  the  water ;  it  has  led  to  a  solemn, 

strict  scrutiny  and  review.     Perhaps  I  might  have  acted 

more  wisely  in  some  parts  of  my  conduct ;  but  if  integrity 
39 


298 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


of  heart  and  honesty  of  intention  are  general  salt,  I  appeal  to  the 
Searcher  of  hearts,  every  part  of  my  labour  amongst  you  was 
seasoned  thereby.  I  have  been,  since  my  return,  making  some 
proficiency  in  the  holy  school.  I  left  your  land  with  a  holy 
quiet,  and  knew  upon  my  return  the  royal  diadem  upon  me. 
I  have  known  the  withdrawing  of  the  pure  river,  which  is  the 
cause  of  solid  joy  to  those  who  are  replenished  by  it.  I  have 
seldom  in  the  course  of  my  experience  known  so  dipping  a  time. 
The  day  again  hath  dawned,  in  which  the  mysteries  couched  in 
darkness,  and  sealed  for  a  time,  are  opened,  as  well  as  the 
requisite  labour  of  the  day  ;  that  I  find  when  the  cloud  is  taken 
off  the  tabernacle,  the  voice  is  very  near  to  call  to  fresh  labour ; 
and  methinks,  in  a  humbling  sense  of  the  worthiness  of  our 
Master  to  be  ever  served,  all  within  me  says,  0  Lord,  give  me 
thy  presence,  in  which  is  all  things,  and  let  prompt  obedience 
be  my  return  for  ever  !  Oh  that  it  might  also  be  thy  happy  lot 
to  know  the  feast  of  dedication,  for  in  the  solemn  day  of  dedi- 
cation of  the  temple  to  God  a  glorious  feast  is  ever  held.  I  am 
abundantly  convinced  the  Author  of  all  sure  mercies  would 
have  it  so ;  and  if  Solomon's  choice  of  wisdom  be  thine,  He 
will  array  thee  with  distinguished  glory ;  if  otherwise,  the  event 
is  fixed,  He  will  cast  off  and  reject. 

 It  is  time  to  conclude,  which  I  cannot  well  with- 
out a  testimony  of  affectionate  remembrance  of  thy  wife  and 
children,  for  whose  true  help  and  establishment  in  the  best 
things  I  am  concerned,  even  with  a  distinguished  anxiety.  May 
you,  their  parents,  by  living  example,  show  them  the  way 
to  rest  and  peace,  and  thereby  a  peaceful  acquittance  in  the 
day  of  inquisition  will  be  obtained,  and  I  trust  the  solid  satis- 
faction of  seeing  in  this  life  those  fruits  of  Heaven's  blessing  on 
your  zeal  and  care,  which  may  be  yours,  and  your  children's 
everlasting  rejoicing. 

Remember,  I  entreat  you,  dear  children,  and  humbly 
seek  Him  in  youth,  for  religion  and  holy  fear  is  the  best 
embellishment  of  youth,  and  the  safe  and  only  guide  through 


^TAT.  41.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  299 

the  difficulties  and  snares  of  life,  as  well  as  the  excellent  com- 
panion and  solace  of  declining  years. 

S.  F. 


JOHN  PEMBERTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  2d  Mo.,  19lh,  1757. 

On  the  8th  instant  I  received  thy  very  affeclionate  epis- 
tle. The  kind  expressions  of  regard  and  good  wishes  for  my 
welfare  which  it  contains,  affected  my  mind  with  a  degree  of 
reverent  thankfulness,  and  with  a  desire  that  my  attention  and 
solicitude  might  increase  steadily  to  pursue  the  path  of  peace, 
whetlier  it  is  joyous  or  afflicting ;  for  I  have  felt,  and  with  awful 
weight,  the  danger  of  missing  the  crown  ;  and  lately  my  situa- 
tion was  dismal,  and  thus  continued  a  long  time,  so  that  I  was 
entirely  without  hope,  yet  subscribed  to  the  Almighty's  justice  ; 
and  though  the  prospect  of  an  eternal  separation,  and  an  inherit- 
ance of  inexpressible  misery,  was  beyond  utterance  distressing, 
yet  I  was  filled,  with  deep  anxiety  for  the  tender  youth  whose 
feet  might  be  turned  out  of  the  path,  or  greatly  injured  in  their 
journey,  if,  by  being  left  to  myself,  I  should  commit  anything 
that  might  bring  a  reproach  ;  and  though  prayer  was  cut  off,  yet 
was  I  resolved  I  would  live  as  near  to  that  which  I  thought 
right,  as  weak  reason  would  suggest,  or  was  in  my  power. 
At  length  the  long-suffering  and  gracious  Being  was  pleased  to 
favour  with  a  degree  of  light,  in  a  time  unexpected,  and  a  pros- 
pect of  duty  seemed  to  open,  to  which  I  seemed  freely  resigned, 
but  afterwards  that  vanished,  and  I  enjoyed  a  calm,  and  was 
willing  to  do,  or  to  suffer  any  thing  to  be  under  the  Divine  no- 
tice. 

May  my  spirit  reverently  magnify  the  Lord,  and  rejoice  with 
fear  in  the  all-merciful  God,  whose  tender  dealings  with  us  can- 
not be  fully  set  forth.  The  freedom  with  which  thou  hast 
written  to  me,  and  the  fatherly  care  manifested  when  present, 
have  made  me  thus  free,  believing  thou  wast  not  altogether  in- 
sensible of  my  situation,  and  the  danger  that  attended  me  when 


300  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1757- 

thou  wrote,  for  many  of  thy  expressions  were  applicable,  (for 
too  great  inattention  has  been  my  failing,)  and  indeed  I  am  sur- 
rounded with  infirmity,  and  darkness  often  covers  me. 

John  Pemberton. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JAMES  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  25th,  1757. 
The  ground  of  that  pure  and  true  friendship  which 
subsisted  betwixt  our  worthy  fathers,  was  doubtless  in  that 
love  which  remains  throughout  all  generations ;  and  as  the 
natural  descendants  from  fellow  members  so  united,  abide 
in  the  same  love  and  pure  friendship  with  the  ever-living 
Head,  the  union  will  remain  undiminished,  and  the  present, 
as  well  as  the  past,  will  make  us  as  epistles  in  one  another's 
hearts. 

Two  expressions  have  often,  since  we  parted,  moved  in  my 
mind  to  apply  to  thee,  with  earnest  desires  they  may  have  due 
place.  The  first  is  this  : — Know  thy  place.  I  am  made  fully 
sensible  the  Lord  of  the  family  hath  designed  one  for  thee,  in 
his  house,  to  bear  up  the  ark  in  these  times,  when  it  is  grievously 
shaken.  For  this  end  hath  he  vouchsafed  the  visitation  of  life 
and  understanding,  and  hath  at  times  taught  thee  to  travail  in 
spirit  for  the  cause,  and  admitted  thee  to  the  tribulation  of  the 
companions  of  Jesus  ;  a  fellowship  not  eligible  to  many,  who 
would  have  the  cause  to  prosper,  but  not  concur  in  the  promo- 
lion  of  it,  in  themselves  or  others.  Let  not  the  embarrassments 
of  this  world,  neither  the  commerce  of  it.  nor  its  stupifying 
fears  and  turbulent  commotions,  divert  from  an  honest  inquiry 
after  thy  proper  place  in  the  church.  There  is  all  our  safety 
and  rest.  In  stormy  times,  these  know,  such  is  the  excellency 
of  Zion's  dwelling  place,  none  can  make  her  afraid.  A 
stone  in  a  building  is  not  serviceable  merely  for  its  filling  a 
vacancy,  but,  being  skilfully  placed,  it  keeps  others  also  in 
theirs  ;  it  covers  some,  and  supports  others  ;   that  the  share 


iETAT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


301 


every  stone  has  in  llie  support  of  an  edifice  is  worthy  of  reli- 
gious application.  An  humble  application  to  the  holy  Workman 
to  square  and  fit,  and  a  sincere  yet  fervent  resignation  to  be 
placed  where  He  will,  will,  in  his  own  time,  fully  instruct  what 
is  our  place,  and  fix  us  therein.  Having  known  thy  place,  and 
entered  therein,  abide  there — was  the  other  hint  which  spread 
in  my  heart  towards  thee.  Beware  of  being  turned  out  of  it, 
by  any  of  those  suggestions  which  an  unwearied  enemy  fre- 
quently raises.  One  seemingly  plausible  is  the  want  of  proper 
qualification  ;  but  whence  this  want  ?  Is  it  of  the  Lord  of  per- 
fection that  the  people  are  lame  and  defective,  or  of  them, 
selves  ?  He  is  infinitely  full  of  all  we  want,  and  would  make 
our  feet  firm  upon  the  mountains,  and  therein  beautiful.  Be- 
ware of  arraigning  a  wisdom  that  is  deep  and  high  ;  yea,[unfa- 
thomably  so  in  the  building  of  his  house,  and  the  choice  of  the 
several  parts  thereof ;  for  where  this  spirit  prevails  that  puts  off 
labour,  and  shdes  away  with  the  plea  of  unfitness,  it  hastens 
their  rejection  from  the  house  of  God  ;  and  alas  !  then,  what 
fabric  can  they  flee  to,  in  the  stormy  day  of  His  power  and 
wrath  ? 

Inwardly  dwell  in  His  pure  preserving  fear.  Let  not  the 
world  lift  up  above  thy  proper  place,  in  reverence  of  heart  and 
chastity  towards  the  Beloved  :  let  not  the  extensive  concerns 
of  merchandise  (lawful  in  themselves)  be  carried  to  such  3 
degree,  as  to  induce  to  forget  the  pearl  hid  in  the  field  ;  and  I 
humbly  hope  thou  wilt  attain  and  retain  that  rest  which  is 
steadfast  and  immoveable,  rejoice  thyself,  and  teach  others  also 
how  to  rejoice  in  the  stability  of  God's  salvation. 

Farewell,  dear  friend  ;  may  the  most  substantial  of  all  bless- 
ings be  diligently  enough  sought,  and  it  will  be  found,  and  be 
an  excellent  defence.    Thine  in  sincere  affection, 

S.  F. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1757,  S.  Fothergill  had  an  alarming 
illness,  which  lasted  a  considerable  time.    The  exertion  and 


302 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


fatigue  he  had  undergone  in  America  ;  the  long  journeys  on 
horseback  which  he  was  in  the  constant  habil  of  performing  ; 
the  nature  of  his  pubHc  services,  and  the  many  engagements 
which  incessantly  occupied  his  mind,  all  combined  to  produce 
a  serious  effect  upon  his  constitution,  from  which  it  never  after- 
wards fully  recovered. 

His  strength  was  on  this  occasion  greatly  reduced,  and  his 
recovery  was  slow.  It  is  thus  mentioned  in  the  journal  of  his 
intimate  friend,  Catherine  Payton  : — "  (4th  Mo.,  9th,  1757.)  — 
"  We  went  to  Warrington,  where  a  renewed  occasion  of  thank- 
"  fulness  to  gracious  Providence  was  administered,  by  the  pro- 
"  bability  of  the  recovery  of  our  dear  friend  Samuel  Fothergill, 
"from  an  indisposition  .wherein  his  life  had  been  despaired  of. 
"  This  had  much  affected  my  mind,  from  the  consideration  of 
"  the  great  loss  the  Church  would  sustain  by  his  removal,  and 
"  myself  as  an  individual  member  thereof;  yet  durst  I  not  ask 
"  his  longer  continuance,  in  this  state  of  trials  and  dangers, 
"  knowing  that  if  Divine  wisdom  called  him  out  of  it  now,  it 
"  would  certainly  be  in  the  best  time." 

ABRAHAM  FARRINGTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Newtown,  near  Carlisle,  3d  Mo.,  19th,  1757. 
Yesterday  I  was  at  Carlisle  Monthly  Meeting  ;  it 
was  large.  I  had  been  very  weak  for  several  days,  but  was 
helped  much  that  day  ;  the  helping  hand  was  near.  I  have 
often  found  it  has  been  the  way  in  which  I  have  been  led 
deep  into  suffering,  both  in  body  and  mind,  to  be  prepared 
to  do  a  good  or  great  work ;  and,  after  it,  must  be  brought 
down  again,  almost,  as  it  seems,  near  to  death.  Oh  !  as- 
tonishing !  why  must  it  so  be,  or  so  suffered  ?  but  to  keep 
the  creatures  from  glorifying  ;  and  to  prepare  it  for  another 
work,  it  must  be  marred.  O,  let  it  be  in  the  Potter's  hand, 
new  made  for  every  work.  Had  I  been  a  silver  or  a  golden 
vessel,  the  marvel  need  not  have  been  so  great.    Silver  or 


JETAT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


303 


gold  will  melt  easily,  and  not  lose  either  virtue  or  weight ;  but 
wooden  vessels  cannot  bear  the  fire,  but  deep  scouring,  rubbing, 
and  scalding  they  must  have,  to  take  out  the  scent  they  are  apt 
to  contract.  So  that  I  find  that  saying  remains  true,  and  will 
stand  for  ever,  "  Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  fruit,  my 
Heavenly  Father  purgeth  it  that  it  may  bring  forth  more  fruit;" 
and  again,  "  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth,"  and  those 
who  are  without  it,  or  do  not  love  it,  are  bastards.  0,  what  need 
we  have  of  patience,  after  we  have  done  the  will  of  our  Master, 
to  wait  for  the  promise.  New  whetting,  new  grinding,  new 
melting,  seems  to  be,  I  think,  the  lot  of  poor  instruments  and 
vessels,  for  the  work  is  new  ;  but  who  are  we,  that  we  should 
reply,  or  ask  the  question,  Why  hast  thou  made  me  thus,  sub- 
ject to  change  or  be  changed  ?  It  may  be,  if  we  can  be  enough 
passive,  and  content,  from  being  marred  in  our  own  eyes,  the 
change  may  be  from  glory  to  glory. 

"What  am  I  writing,  or  to  whom  ?  If  I  have  gone  too  far,  do 
not  expose  me. 

Abraham  Farrington. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

London,  3d  Mo.,  31st,  1757. 
Yesterday  I  received  an  agreeable  account  from  cousin 
Charles  Chorlcy  of  thy  recovery.  As  soon  as  thy  strength,  the 
■weather,  and  the  roads  permit,  the  easy  motion  of  a  carriage 
will,  perhaps,  be  beneficial :  be  very  careful,  however,  of  the 
first  cold,  for  this  may  plunge  thee  again  into  great  difficulties. 

  This,  I  hope,  will  find  thee  fast  recruiting,  and  if 

not  yet  able  to  write  thyself,  yet  let  us  hear  from  thee  through 
some  channel,  as  often  as  possible.  I  must  leave  to  our  sister, 
for  a  while,  the  management  of  a  correspondence  which  is  one 
of  the  principal  pleasures  I  enjoy.  But  I  am  almost  oppressed 
at  present,  though,  I  trust,  it  will  not  be  of  long  continuance  ; 
and  I  write  this  after  having  mounted  not  less  than  fifty  single 


304 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


pairs  of  stairs  to-day,  and  some  of  them  at  no  small  distance 
from  each  other ;  but  whilst  I  have  any  sense  left  remaining, 
whether  I  am  able  to  express  it  or  not,  I  shall  always  remain 
thy  affectionate  brother, 


SAMUEL  EMLEN  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Dudley,  4th  Mo.,  4th,  1757. 

B.  M.  and  myself  were  favoured  to  get  well  to  Staf- 
ford, the  next  evening  after  setting  out  on  the  journey.  The 
next  day  was  extremely  wet,  and,  perhaps,  proved  a  sufficient 
excuse  to  some  of  our  brethren  in  profession  for  their  not 
attending  the  monthly  and  quarterly  meetings,  both  held  there  ; 
the  number  of  those  who  came  was  very  small ;  1  think  not 
above  a  dozen  or  fourteen  men,  and  not  more  women  ;  among 
the  latter  was  dear  C.  Payton,  to  whom,  I  believe,  it  was  a 
day  of  suffering  and  pain.  She  intimated  her  willingness  to 
see  some  of  their  families  at  home,  and,  much  to  my  unex- 
pected pleasure,  intimated  a  freedom  that  I  might  accompany 
her  therein. 

I  thought  a  little  of  the  matter,  and  hoped,  if  I  proved  not  in 
her  way,  or  burdensome,  it  might  be  an  additional  opportunity  of 
improvement  to  myself,  among  the  many  put  into  my  hands  by 
a  gracious  God,  whose  long-continued  willingness  for  my  help 
furnishes  a  matter  of  humble  admiration  and  thankfulness,  with 
a  degree  of  which  I  wish  my  mind  may  be  daily  clothed  ;  being 
satisfied  I  am  distinguished  by  receiving  many  mercies,  and  pe- 
culiar marks  of  unmerited  long-neglected  favours.  0  that  the 
time  past,  in  which  my  heart  has  been  too  much  attached  to 
lying  vanities,  may  be  properly,  and  then  will  it  be  profitably, 


JETAT.  41.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


305 


reflected  upon,  by  quickening  to  greater  care  and  vigilance  in 
the  important  work  of  true  religion,  the  necessity  of  which,  at 
times,  is  in  mercy  shown  me. 

I  am  painfully  sensible,  that  although  I  was,  early  after  my 
coming  to  Warrington,  called  upon  in  your  meeting,  in  the 
words  of  the  apostle,  O,  Timothy,  keep  that  which  is  commit- 
ted to  thy  trust,  avoiding  profane  and  vain  babblings  ;"  an  inat- 
tention to  the  former  hath  been  an  inlet  to  the  latter,  and,  to  my 
unwary  mind,  hath  been  a  destructive  snare  of  the  adversary, 
who,  alas,  persuades  too  many  of  the  unguarded  youth,  that  if 
they  refrain  from  those  things  accounted  among  men  immoral, 
they  are  then  safe  from  noxious  things ;  and  by  this  specious 
delusion,  my  sorrowful  experience  bears  me  witness,  a  seeking 
after  that  most  desirable  knowledge,  of  a  growth  in  spiritual 
understanding  and  Divine  favours,  is  diverted.  Hence  come 
leanness  and  poverty,  which,  if  not  timely  fled  from,  produce 
death;  against  which  I  desire  to  be  more  watchful  than  in  the 
former  part  of  my  time,  and  hope,  when  it  is  well  with  thee, 
for  thy  future  breathings  on  my  behalf,  to  that  Being,  with  whom 
is  all-sufficiency. 

The  sorrowful  news  from  Ireland  of  the  Church's  loss,  and 

the  afflicting  dispensation  allotted  to  S.  Neale,  in  the  death  of 

my  dear  mother  in  the  Truth,  Mary  Peisley,  quickly  spread  thus 

far ;  an  additional  evidence  of  the  uncertain  continuance  of  all 

sublunary  things,  which  I  wish  may  awaken  me  to  more  strict 

consideration  thereof,  and  diligence  to  endeavour,  as  much  as 

in  me  lies,  to  follow  the  footsteps  of  that  truly  worthy  woman, 

of  whom  I  have  this  testimony,  that  of  all  the  people  within  the 

compass  of  my  knowledge,  I  think  none  were  more  watchfully 

circumspect  at  all  times  than  she  ;  though  now  gone  from  works 

to  rewards,  I  hope  the  remembrance  of  her  will  be  often  livingly 

fresh  in  my  mind  for  my  own  instruction.    The  endearing  love 

which  subsisted  between  her  and  dear  C.  P.,  will  render  the 

trial  to  the  latter  great ;  she  knows  where  in  time  past  she  has 

found  support,  and  I  hope  will  be  yet  enabled  to  trust  in  Him, 
40 


306 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


•\vho  remains  to  the  upright  unalterably  faithful  and  all-suf- 
ficient. 

My  good  wishes  are  towards  thy  brother  Joseph's  family,  to 
some  of  whom  the  visitation  of  Divine  love  is  extended,  to  the 
humbling  of  their  minds  at  times;  may  they  prize  the  mercy 
while  afforded.  The  contrition  under  which  I  have  sometimes 
seen  Sarah*  has  affected  my  mind,  and  raised  desires  that  she 
may  now,  in  the  lime  of  youth,  the  most  acceptable  season,  be 
prevailed  with  to  embrace  that,  which  will  furnish  true  peace 
and  durable  comfort,  when  the  most  pleasing  of  temporal  enjoy- 
ments sink  into  very  nothingness,  with  respect  to  any  satisfaction 
in  their  power  to  yield. 

Samuel  Emlen,  Jon. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  4th  Mo.,  25th,  1 757. 

I  have  had  a  long  indisposition,  being  afflicted  with  the 
rheumatism  and  a  fever,  and,  in  general  apprehension,  near  my 
final  change  ;  but  am,  through  mercy,  much  better  in  my  health, 
though  very  weak,  and  have  but  at  times  the  use  of  my  hand. 

Neither  absence,  nor  sickness,  nor  any  other  circumstance, 
hath  impaired  that  love  unfeigned  I  bear  to  thee,  thy  dear  wife, 
and  children ;  a  love  flowing  from  a  pure  fountain,  which  would 
effectually  wash  all  our  garments  from  every  thing  unlovely,  if 
we  enough  sought  and  waited  for  its  baptizing  virtue,  and  would 
present  us  without  spot  or  wrinkle  to  our  holy  Head. 

I  have  found  it  very  necessary  to  bow  in  heart  to  the  rod 
with  which  the  Heavenly  Father  has  pleased  to  chastise 
me,  and  with  inward  and  outward  distress  to  humble  into 
very  dust  before  him.  A  lime  of  profitable  searching,  I  trust, 
I  have  had ;  and  may  it  evermore  remain,  and  its  result  as 
a  nail  fastened  in  a  sure  place.    We  serve  a  wise,  gracious 

*  The  second  daughter  of  Joseph  Fothergill,  afterwards  Sarah  Hiid. 
She  died  at  Leeds,  3d  Mo.,  31st,  1819,  aged  78. 


jEtat.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


307 


Master,  and  yet,  even  after  we  have  done  our  duty,  and  laboured 
according  to  the  present  direction  and  portion  of  strength,  we 
have  need  of  patience,  for  in  the  inscrutable  treasure-house  of 
our  Master  is  reserved  our  wages.  Oh  that  such  may  be  our  fi- 
dehty,  chrough  the  various  revolutions  of  our  pilgrimage,  that  no- 
thing may  deprive  us  of  our  crown  ;  but  having  received  the  faith 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  may  we  hold  it  fast  without  wavering, 
and  receive  its  reward,  even  the  salvation  of  our  souls. 

Our  worthy  friend  Abraham  Farrington  was  lately  well  in  the 
county  of  Durham.  He  has  along  with  him  the  most  unques- 
tionable seals  to  his  commission,  and  is  amongst  us  in  the  ful- 
ness of  the  gospel  power  to  search  out  the  hidden  things  of 
Esau,  and  is  a  nursing-father  to  the  tender  plants. 

I  am  greatly  obliged  to  thee  for  the  extracts  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  your  Yearly  Meeting,  and  glad  to  hear  you  were  favoured 
with  the  overshadowing  of  the  Holy  Wing  in  it,  and  blessed  with 
a  spirit  of  mutual  condescension.  I  hope  all  things  will  work 
together  for  good,  as  the  meek,  suffering  nature  of  the  Lamb  is 
abode  in. 

I  was  supported  by  the  Hand  which  has  been  often  near  to 
my  help,  to  labour  honestly  in  London,  and  not  ashamed  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ  my  Lord.  Many  of  the  warmest  opposers  of  the 
progress  of  the  Church  from  strength  to  strength,  were  at  their 
country  houses.  But  I  expect  the  united  attack  of  such  will  be 
upon  me  at  the  Yearly  Meeting.  But  I  know  who  has  covered 
my  head  hitherto,  and  I  humbly  beg  for  wisdom  and  counsel 
and  strength  in  the  field  of  battle,  in  which  I  shall  find  myself 
necessarily  engaged. 

Dear  worthy  M.  Peisley  is  now  beyond  the  reach  of  reproach, 
having  suddenly  finished  her  course,  and  gone  down  to  the 
grave,  in  the  highest  degree  of  spendour,  and  the  glory  of  her 
Master's  countenance,  which  was  most  eminently,  nay,  in  a 
double  portion,  with  her  for  some  weeks  before  her  final  change. 
She  was  married  to  Samuel  Neale  the  I7th,  taken  ill  two  days 
afterwards,  and  departed  the  20th  of  last  month,  to  the  great 


308 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


loss  of  the  poor  withering  Church  in  Ireland.  But  unsearcha- 
ble is  the  wisdom,  and  perfect  the  goodness  of  God,  who  rules 
in  heaven  and  on  earth. 

I  cannot  make  retaliation  of  the  favours  and  kindness  I  have  re- 
ceived from  thee  and  thy  family.  My  most  ardent  wishes  are  for 
all  your  prosperity,  and  growth  up  into  heavenly  places  in  Christ 
our  holy  head  ;  that  the  blessings  of  heaven  and  its  fruitful  dew 
may  be  known  to  lie  upon  your  branches,  yea,  to  remain  there 
long  ;  that  even  beyond  your  excellent  progenitors,  your  bless- 
ings may  extend  ;  and  thus  would  Eternal  Fulness  plenteously 
diffuse  more  and  more  through  the  families  of  his  people  the 
riches  of  all  ages,  as  they  are  made  the  chiefest  joy. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ABRAHAM  DARBY* 

Warrington,  5th  Mo.,  14th,  1757. 
Thine  I  received  this  day,  and  have  to  acknowledge, 
with  gratitude  to  the  gracious  Preserver  of  men,  I  am  much  re- 
covered from  my  late  indisposition,  though  yet  weak,  and  not 
altogether  free  from  pain. 

I  nevertheless  hope  to  reach  the  Yearly  Meeting,  in  London, 
and  am  necessarily  obliged  to  make  it  as  easy  a  journey  as  I 
can.  I  hope  to  beat  Coventry  the  day  thou  mentions,  and  have 
thought  of  easing  myself  now  and  then  by  the  use  of  a  post 
chaise.  I  am  under  some  engagement  of  mind  to  attend  a 
meeting  in  this  neighbourhood  next  first  day  but  one,  and  am 
really  unfit  to  make  any  excursions  out  of  the  direct  road,  unless 
duty  absolutely  required. 

With  the  utmost  sincerity,  I  wish  thy  daughter  Hannah 
much  happiness.  May  Jesus  be  called  to  her  marriage, 
and  every  real  blessing  be  extended,  in  the  wise  propottions 
of  eternal  mercy  and  wisdom.  Let  not  the  transient  glare 
of  this  world  nor   its  fallacious  promises,  bring  a  veil  over 

*  Abraham  Darby  died  at  Coalbrookdale,  3d  Mo.,  31st,  1763.  The  mar- 
liage  here  mentioned  was  that  of  his  daughter  Hannah  to  Richard  Rey- 
nolds. 


^TAt.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHEHGILL. 


309 


that  beauty  which  is  in  holiness,  or  impair  in  her  view  the  love- 
hness  of  that  one  in  a  thousand,  "  fairer  than  the  children  of 
men,"  whom  she  has  sometimes  beheld  in  measure  :  all  visibles 
are  fleeting ;  all  lower  connexions,  however  tender,  endearing, 
and  laudable,  liable  to  dissolution ;  but  he  that  loved  us  and 
gave  himself  for  us  remains  the  Ancient  of  Days,  yet  new  every 
morning.  Let  your  example,  oh  parents  !  impress  these  truths 
deeply  on  your  offspring,  and  spread  amongst  those  with  whom 
you  have  to  do,  or  amongst  whom  you  have  to  walk,  lively  ex- 
amples of  that  humility  and  heavenly-raindedness  which  be- 
comes and  adorns  those,  who,  well  knowing  the  greatness  of 
this  world  is  a  tempting  snare,  and  yet  an  empty  bubble,  seek  a 
city  which  hath  foundations,  laid  and  established  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world  was  laid.  Farewell,  beloved  friends, 
be  wise,  watchful  and  happy. 

S.  F. 

At  the  approach  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  he  was  sufficiently 
recovered  to  leave  home,  and  accompanied  his  friend,  Abraham 
Farrington,  by  easy  stages  to  London,  when  they  both  attended 
that  meeting. 

JOHN  GURNEY*  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Norwich,  5th  Mo.,  29,  1757. 
When  I  last  parted  from  thee  at  Gravesend,  I  could 
not  think,  if  we  both  lived,  that  I  should  have  missed  seeing 
thee  at  the  first  Yearly  Meeting  in  London  after  thy  return, 
and  which  I  much  longed  for ;  I  am  unavoidably  prevented, 
and  so  must  submit ;  I  have  not  missed  above  once  before  for 
twenty-three  years.  I  am  very  glad  and  thankful  it  has  pleased 
Providence  to  permit  thy  safe  return,  and  to  hear  that  thy  health 
is  restored ;  for  I  am  ready  to  believe  there  was  never  more 
need  of  a  nearness  one  to  another  ;  nor  any  period,  that,  in  my 
remembrance,  called  for  more  circumspection.    We  seem,  from 

•  John  Gurney  died  8th  Mo.,  2d,  1779,  aged  61. 


310 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


many  incidents  fallen  out,  more  noticed  than  ever,  and  according 
to  the  shining  of  our  lights  shall  we  become  a  blessing  or  a 
liindrance  to  those  that  are  seeking  truth.  I  can  truly  say  I 
greatly  wish  in  our  whole  conduct  that  we  may  be  blameless 
and  harmless. 

In  this  place  we  have  of  late  had  great  changes,  and  Truth 
has,  in  particulars,  operated  very  strongly,  I  may  safely  add  mi- 
raculously ;  the  freethinker,  the  libertine,  the  scoffer,  having  in 
great  nothingness  and  humility,  been  deeply  baptized  into  the 
spirit  of  the  gospel,  so  that  the  last  are  become  first,  and  some 
that  have  been  cause  of  great  pain  are  now  a  cause  of  joy.  I  am 
sure  I  am  truly  glad  that  it  is  so,  yet  I  cannot  help  also  desiring 
that  such  as  by  their  outward  appearance  have  seemed  first, 
may  not  be  the  very  hindermost,  or  that,  being  centred  in  form 
and  ease,  they  should  become  lost  to  the  very  savour  of  life,  and 
so  be  dry  and  die.  May  all  be  incited  to  more  and  more  dili- 
gence, by  seeing  the  invitation  of  our  great  Lord  embraced  by 
such  as  have  long  dwelt  in  unbelief,  and  have,  as  it  were,  wast- 
ed their  substance  in  a  strange  land. 

1  know  not  what  I  shall  urge  for  my  writing  thee  thus,  but  I 
found  a  desire  to  salute  thee  in  a  few  lines. 

Thy  affectionate  friend, 

John  Gurney. 

CATHERINE  PAYTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Woodbridge,  6th  Mo.,  21st,  1757. 
In  that  love  which  neither  time  nor  distance  can 
efface — which  breathes  health  and  salvation  to  all,  and 
especially  to  the  heritage  of  God — do  I  salute  thee,  with 
ardent  desires  for  thy  preservation  and  yet  firmer  establish- 
ment on  the  eternal  Rock,  which  I  am  sure  I  find  it  necessary 
daily  to  press  after,  and  beheve  it  to  be  so  for  all,  however 
advanced  in  experience,  or  dignified  with  divine  honour, 
who  are  yet  in  a  state  of  progression,  and  may  advance  in 


^TAT.  41.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


311 


glory  and  holy  stability.  And  inasmuch  as  we  may  acknow- 
ledge, with  humble  gratitude,  that  the  Lord  our  God  has  done 
much  for  us,  and  in  his  own  wisdom  and  power  exalted  us  above 
many  of  his  servants,  may  we  be  still  concerned  that  his  own 
image,  which  is  purity  and  perfection,  may  be  more  and  more 
conspicuous  in  all  our  works  ;  that  we  may  be  examples  to  the 
believers,  in  word,  in  conversation,  in  doctrine,  in  spirit,  in  faith, 
in  purity. 

Through  infinite  favour,  I  am  got  thus  far,  I  hope  well,  on 
my  journey,  having  been  helped  by  the  mighty  Helper  to  dis- 
charge my  duty  beyond  my  expectation  or  desert;  and  also 
made  subject  to  the  humbling  dispensations  of  his  providence, 
so  that  it  has  been  little  to  me  whether  I  was  clothed  with  the 
royal  robe,  or  made  to  appear  naked  and  barefoot  in  the  view  of 
the  people,  if  the  name  of  my  God  might  but  be  honoured  in 
and  by  me  ;  both  which  states  have  been  remarkably  my  lot, 
and,  I  believe,  will  be  measurably  so,  of  all  the  vessels  that  are 
made  and  preserved  honourable  in  the  Lord's  house — they  must 
be  stripped  of  themselves,  and  have  all  former  experience  taken 
away;  so  shall  their  ministry  be  more  and  more  refined,  and 
effectual  to  the  end  for  which  it  is  appointed ;  and  though  it 
appear  less  in  measure,  it  will  be  more  in  weight.  It  is  not, 
my  dear  friend,  because  thou  art  ignorant  of  these  things,  that  I 
write  them,  but  as  they  freely  offer  to  my  pen,  I  drop  them 
simply:  perhaps  by  such  free  communication  we  may  read  each 
other  in  the  life,  and  be  incited  to  persevere  in  the  heavenly  race. 

I  am  favoured  with  an  agreeable  companion  in  Sophia  Hume, 
and  John  Kendall  has  given  up  to  accompany  us  in  our  intended 
journey  to  Holland,  who  I  rather  hope  will  be  more  serviceable 
than  some  Friends  may  expect,  as  he  has  of  late  years  been 
industriously  improving  himself  in  the  language :  so  far  as  I 
can  yet  discover,  Providence  smiles  on  the  undertaking,  and  I 
humbly  hope  will  favour  us  with  peace  therein. 

Catherine  Payton. 


312 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


MARY  PEMBERTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelpliia,  6th  Mo.,  29th,  1757. 

 I  marvel  not  at  the  low,  stripping  seasons 

thou  hast  experienced,  since  thy  return  from  such  an  engage- 
ment ;  and,  indeed,  it  is  a  manifest  token  of  the  peculiar  regard 
of  Infinite  Wisdom  and  Mercy,  to  administer  a  balance  of  this 
sort  to  his  favourite  children,  who  are  indulged  with  large  at- 
tainments, and  blessed  with  precious  endowments,  that  through 
every  dispensation  of  his  providence  they  may  be  preserved  in 
an  humble  dependence  upon  the  strength  of  His  everlasting  arm, 
whose  faithfulness  faileth  not. 

It  was,  dear  friend,  with  a  considerable  degree  of  concern  we 
heard  of  thy  late  illness  ;  and,  I  think,  I  may  say  for  all  thy 
friends,  that  I  do  believe  there  never  was  a  friend  amongst  us 
remembered  with  a  greater  degree  of  esteem,  or  more  unfeigned 
love,  than  thyself.  The  aspect  of  our  affairs  appears  more  and 
more  gloomy,  and  the  Lord  alone  knows  what  will  be  the  event 
of  these  commotions  in  the  earth  ;  in  the  midst  of  which,  all 
that  the  humble  have  to  hope  for  is,  that  they  may  see  Jerusa- 
lem a  quiet  habitation,  a  tabernacle  that  shall  not  be  trodden 
down.  He  is  sufficient  to  exalt  his  own  name  and  power,  by 
ways  and  means  which  are  not  to  be  comprehended  by  the  finite, 
limited  comprehensions  of  men,  though  the  clouds  are  darkened 
by  an  impending  storm. 

Daniel  Stanton  desires  to  be  particularly  remembered  to  thee; 
thy  letter  to  him  was  particularly  acceptable  and  very  service- 
able, as  it  came  in  a  needful  time,  and  was  expressive  of  that 
sympathy  and  regard  which  is  truly  an  emanation  of  the  Divine 
mind,  and  which  that  alone  can  inspire  the  soul  with  ;  it  could 
not  have  been  more  suitably  adapted  had  thou  known  his  cir- 
cumstances, he  being  then  very  low  in  mind. 

Mary  Pemberton. 


iETAT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILI,. 


313 


In  the  6th  Month,  1757,  Samuel  Fothergill  attended  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  at  York,  and  the  following  circumstance  is 
related  of  him.  He  had  been  largely  engaged  in  the  ministry, 
and  was  at  that  time  in  great  repute  among  Friends  everywhere  ; 
his  company  was  much  sought,  and  many  appeared  to  strive 
who  should  show  him  most  attention.  He  was  earnestly 
pressed  to  stay  and  attend  the  meetings  on  the  ensuing  first 
day.  An  aged  woman,  from  the  country,  a  plain,  honest 
Friend,  believing  him  to  be  in  some  danger  from  the  caresses 
of  the  people,  took  him  aside,  and  repeated  the  passage,  When 
Jesus  perceived  that  the  people  would  take  him  by  force  and 
make  him  a  king,  he  departed  into  the  mountain  himself  alone. 
S.  Fothergill  saw  the  force  and  wisdom  of  the  advice;  he  took 
his  horse,  and  quietly  departed  towards  home  ;  and  when  after- 
wards adverting  to  the  circumstance,  he  always  spoke  of  it  as 
an  excellent  admonition. 

CATHERINE  PAYTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Norwich,  7th  Mo.,  6th,  1757. 
I  cannot  quite  easily  leave  the  nation,  without  acknow- 
ledging the  receipt  of  thy  truly  acceptable  and  seasonable  salu- 
tation in  this  city,  wherein  I  have  indeed  been  partaker  of  the 
suffering  of  the  righteous  seed,  which  I  fear  is  oppressed  in  the 
hearts  of  most  of  the  professors  of  Truth.  Our  meetings  are 
much  frequented  by  many  people  of  other  societies,  who  have 
an  ear  open  to  the  testimony  of  Truth,  and  some  are  convinced 
and  settled  amongst  Friends,  for  divers  of  whom  I  hope  well ; 
but,  alas  !  the  numerous  company  of  preachers  is  ^far  from  ad- 
ministering joy  to  me  ;  I  am  afraid  many  of  them  are  untimely 
births,  and  some  bastards ;  and  these,  perhaps,  make  the 
greatest  noise,  and  are  in  danger  of  hurting  the  few  true-born 
children,  whose  judgment  has  not  yet  acquired  strength  to  dis- 
tinguish from  whence  the  voices  which  are  uttered  are ;  and 
seeing  how  some,  who,  I  doubt,  have  little  root  in  experience, 


314 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


appear  great  in  the  branches  of  doctrine,  ihey  may,  on  consider- 
ing how  lillle  and  foohsh  they  appear,  be  discouraged  from 
coming  up  in  their  services,  or  unwarily  led  to  an  imilatioiv  of 
that,  which,  to  a  discerning  eye,  is  apparently  some  of  the  wares 
of  mystery,  Babylon. 

I  am  now  nearly  clear  of  them,  and  hope  I  may  say  I  have 
in  a  good  degree  discharged  myself  faithfully  ;  for  which,  per- 
haps, 1  may  not  go  uncensured  ;  for  I  believe  it  appears  some- 
what strange  and  ungrateful  to  hear  one  cry,  "  A  sword  1"  in 
opposition  to  such  as  have  cried,  "Peace  !"  But  (or  I  am  mis- 
taken,) there  is  occasion  for  such  doctrine,  even  to  the  chiefs 
amongst  them,  some  of  whom,  I  fear,  are  too  much  clothed  with 
spiritual  pride. 

1  delivered  thy  message  of  love  to  ,  but  not  fully 

in  thy  own  terms,  I  make  no  doubt  of  his  having  been  of 
honourable  descent,  and  of  considerable  service  in  the  Church  ; 
but,  if  I  feel  aright,  a  renewed  baptism  is  necessary  for  him.  I 
should  scarcely  write  thus,  did  I  not  fear  that  the  knowledge 
of  his  standing  in  the  relation  with  thee  which  thou  expresses, 
would  rather  tend  to  exalt  than  humble  him.  I  lodge  at  Henry 
Gurney's ;  I  feel  a  considerable  nearness  of  spirit  to  him,  and 
to  Edmund  and  his  mother. 

Although  suffering  is  my  lot,  my  good  Master  deals  bounti- 
fully with  me,  in  resigning  my  spirit  to  the  various  dispensations 
of  his  providence,  and  sometimes  raising  me,  in  his  own  power, 
to  testify  to  his  eternal  Truth.  Oh  !  my  dear  friend,  may  I  never 
forsake  the  way  of  his  commandments,  in  which  there  is  light, 
peace,  and  joy  unspeakable.  I  can  say  truly,  that  I  fear  nothing 
so  much  as  being  debilitated  for  his  service,  by  taking  any 
crooked  step  through  life.  Let  what  will  in  the  course  of  his  un- 
erring providence  attend  me,  I  am  at  present  resigned  thereto,  if 
happily  the  mark  of  preservation  may  but  be  set  upon  me.  It  is 
true,  as  thou  observest,  "  the  conflicts  of  the  passage  are  arduous." 
I  need  thy  prayers,  not  only  in  the  present  weighty  engage- 
ment, but  perhaps  more  so  in  my  future  trials,  and,  through 


iETAT.  41.]  OP  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


315 


mercy,  I  feel  thou  canst  not  withhold  them,  for  the  Lord  has 
opened  our  hearts  in  intercession  one  for  another,  having  singu- 
larly united  us  in  the  best  relationship  ;  may  our  eyes  be  kept 
attentive  to  that  which  alone  can  make  us  helpful  to  each  other, 
and  give  an  impartial  judgment  of  our  prospects  and  services. 

Catherine  Payton. 

P.  S. — I  am  this  morning  favoured  with  thine,  which  on  thy 
own  account  affords  me  true  satisfaction,  although  the  low  state 
thou  art  dipped  into  claims  and  obtains  my  sympathy ;  but  as 
I  doubt  not  its  pointing  to  some  further  height  of  glory,  or  being 
placed  as  a  defence  on  that  wherewith  Divine  wisdom  and  mer- 
cy has  already  clothed  thee,  pardon  me  if  I  say,  I  rejoice  in  thy 
tribulation,  as  I  have  frequently  done  in  my  own.  I  heartily 
join  thee  in  desiring  that  I  may  be  preserved  humble,  and  hope 
that  He  who  knows  best  how  to  proportion  the  depths  to  the 
heights,  for  the  salvation  of  his  people,  will  administer  baptisms 
effectual  for  that  end.  The  secret  strippings  and  fears  which  I 
pass  through,  are  only  known  to  him  ;  ihey  frequently  breathe 
this  language — I  have  nothing  to  glory  in  but  my  infirmities, 
and  the  Divine  mercy. 

C.  P. 

HENRY  GURNEY*  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Norwich,  7th  Mo.,  9lh,  1757. 

Our  worthy  friends'C.  Payton  and  S.  Hume,  are  still 
here,  with  A.  Farrington  and  John  Bradford.  Their  company 
has  been  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends  in  general,  and 
very  greatly  to  mine,  who  have  the  pleasure  of  entertaining 
them.  I  hope  they  have  had  some  reason  not  to  repent  their 
visit  to  this  place.  Our  meetings  have  been  very  large  ;  pro- 
bably C.  P.  may  have  given  thee  her  sentiments  of  them,  and, 

•  Henry  Gurney  died  4th  Mo.,  7th,  1777. 


316 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


therefore,  I  shall  only  say,  her  appearances  therein  have  been 
like  such  as  seek  not  their  own  honour,  but  the  glory  of  Him 
who  hath  called  them,  and  I  wish  (not  without  faith,)  that  they 
may  have  their  effect  to  stir  up  the  negligent  to  diligence,  and 
encourage  those  who  have  begun  in  the  heavenly  race,  to  per- 
severe without  fainting  to  the  end,  where  the  prize  of  eternal 
life  is  to  be  obtained. 

A.  F.  and  his  companion  leave  us  this  afternoon.  The  poor 
old  man  is  sadly  afflicted  with  pain  in  his  head,  and  at  times 
seems  very  low  in  his  mind,  lest  he  should  thereby  be  rendered 
incapable  of  service.  I  accompanied  him  to  two  meetings  this 
week,  in  both  of  which  he  bore  powerful  testimonies  to  Truth, 
I  am  persuaded  to  the  edification  of  most  present,  in  a  manner 
much  suited  to  their  circumstances,  and  will  not  soon  be  forgot- 
ten. There  is  great  need  in  this  country  of  such  skilful  and  la- 
borious workmen,  where,  though  there  appears  some  greenness 
and  life,  the  enemy  is  scattering  his  tares,  and  in  many,  yea, 
abundantly  too  many,  the  seed  is  choked,  and  in  danger  of  be- 
ing destroyed.  How  glad  would  some  be  to  hear  thou  had 
drawings  in  thy  mind  to  pay  us  a  visit ;  but  if  that  is  not  to  be 
expected,  yet  let  us  be  in  thy  remembrance,  and  when  thou 
art  favoured  in  the  secret  of  thy  heart  to  approach  the  throne  of 
Divine  Grace,  intercede  for  our  preservation,  that  we  may  hold 
fast  the  Truth,  of  which  we  are  convinced,  without  wavering, 
and,  if  it  be  the  will  of  Providence,  by  example,  and  as  He  may 
otherwise  appoint,  contribute  to  promote  his  glory, 

Henry  Gurney. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  SAMUEL  EMLEN. 

Warrington,  7th  Mo.,  25th,  1757. 

True  friendship,  like  its  synonymous  virtue, 
charity,  is  not  restricted  to  the  general  forms  of  correspond- 
ence, but,   whenever  its  sacred  warmth  is  felt,  discovers 


JET\T.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGtLL. 


317 


itself,  though  perhaps  in  weak  productions.    This,  at  present, 
is  my  apology  to  thee  for  writing. 

I  hope  it  is  well  with  thee,  though,  if  I  judge  right,  in  a  situa- 
tion rather  painful  than  joyous  :  but  I  rejoice  in  thy  tribulation, 
as  it  most  certainly  tends  to  produce  experience  to  thyself,  and 
a  yet  further  establishment  in  that  holy  stability,  which  is  the 
blessed  fruit  of  suffering,  when  rightly  digested. 

Such  are  the  times  as  to  require  the  true  sons  of  the  immor- 
tal Father  to  enter  into  their  chambers  of  mourning,  and  weep 
for  themselves  and  Jerusalem's  progeny  ;  and  even  to  adopt 
the  prophet's  wish,  "  Oh  that  my  head  were  waters  ;"  never- 
theless, He,  whose  is  the  cause,  the  kingdom,  the  power,  and 
the  glory,  is  not  unmindful  of  his  distressed  servants  ;  nay,  their 
sorrowful  bemoanings  are  to  him  a  very  acceptable  sacrifice  ; 
and  a  Divine  fragrance  attends  them,  as  a  part  of  that  sweet 
odour  which  ever  arises  to  perfume  his  holy  habitation.  Let 
not,  therefore,  thy  disconsolate  situation,  in  weakness,  and  in 
great  poverty  at  times,  dismay  thee  ;  neither  lose  thy  hold,  in 
humble,  depending  patience,  for  that  love  which  is  symbolically 
set  forth  as  a  woman  to  her  sucking  child  is  towards  thee,  and 
and  as  thou  abides  in  its  holy  relish,  and  lives  in  obedience  to 
its  holy  dictates,  thy  borders,  though  now  scarcely  visible,  will 
be  laid  with  fair  stones  ;  thy  windows,  or  the  faculties  of  thy 
spiritual  understanding,  with  agates,  well  polished  or  squared, 
according  to  the  rules  of  unerring  rectitude  ;  and  all  thy  gates, 
through  which  the  will  passes  into  action,  of  transparent  car- 
buncles ;  all  fitly  framed  together,  as  a  receptacle  for  Him,  who 
is  glorious  throughout  all  his  name.  Thus  would  the  Holy 
One  build  thee  up  to  his  praise  ;  and  if  he  be  the  architect,  no 
matter  whether  we  are  a  lodge  in  a  garden  of  cucumbers,  or 
built  up  in  the  similitude  of  a  palace  ;  for  both  are  necessary, 
in  the  appendage  of  the  King  of  kings. 

Repine  not,  therefore,  dear  friend,  at  the  wise  allotment  of 
the  great  Master  to  thee,  in  the  economy  of  the  Holy  household  ; 
infinitely  wise  is  he  who  hath  assigned  it,  and  the  future  reward 


318 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


is  proportioned  rather  to  the  fidelity  of  his  servants,  than  to  the 
sphere  of  their  motion  in  dignity. 

I  sympathise  with  the  afflicted  from  experience,  yea,  from 
my  present  lot,  which  is  cast  by  tlie  fountain  of  Marah.  I 
may,  perhaps,  be  preparing  for  some  future  service,  but  am,  at 
present,  as  I  believe  is  requisite  for  me,  stripped  of  all.  Some 
glimmerings  of  the  Master's  countenance  at  times  appear  but  in 
the  general  situation  of  my  mind,  I  feel  less  than  the  least  of 
all  true  disciples.  May  the  name  of  my  God  be  exalted,  though 
I  am  abased  in  dust  and  ashes. 

Farewell,  dear  Samuel,  be  vigilant  and  happy.  Thine  in 
truest  affection, 

S.  F. 

CATHERINE  PAYTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Amsterdam,  8th  Mo.,  1st,  1757. 
We  arrived  at  Helvoetsluys  on  the  22d  ultimo,  and  pro- 
ceeded by  way  of  Rotterdam  to  this  city,  where  we  found  a  few 
under  the  profession  of  Truth,  some  of  whom,  I  hope  and 
believe,  are  measurably  in  the  possession  thereof,  although  in 
some  particulars  not  so  strict  as  some  Friends  in  England  ;  by 
these  we  are  gladly  received,  and  also  by  some  seeking  people 
of  other  societies,  especially  amongst  the  Mennonists,  who  are  a 
people  greatly  degenerated  from  that  simplicity  which  in  the 
beginning  appeared  amongst  them.  Yet  there  remains  a  rem- 
nant, who  are  near  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  who,  J  cannot 
help  thinking,  were  there  a  solid  body  of  Friends  in  this  city, 
might  be  likely  to  settle  with  us.  I  find  myself  considerably 
straitened  in  conveying  the  mind  of  Truth  to  the  people  through 
an  interpreter.  John  Vanderwerf  acts  in  that  capacity  ;  he  is 
the  most  suitable  person  we  could  meet  with,  having  a  pretty 
thorough  understanding  of  the  English  and  Dutch  tongues, 
and  being  of  a  sober  conversation,  and  not  void  of  religious 
impressions.  I  believe  he  is  very  just  in  rendering  the  sense 
of  what  I  say  to  the  people,  but  for  want  of  a  greater  depth 


jETat.  41.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


319 


in  experience,  the  virtue  seems  to  me  to  be  in  part  lost,  and  the 
openings  of  Truth  are  choked.  But  notwithstanding  this  dis- 
couraging circumstance,  to  which  I  may  add  my  being  fre- 
quently stripped  of  the  sensible  enjoyment  of  the  best  good,  and 
made  to  sit  in  bondage,  under  the  humbling  sense  of  human  in- 
firmities, which  creates  fears  respecting  my  future  standing ;  yet 
have  I  never  been  suffered  to  doubt  my  coming  here  was  in  the 
direction  of  Infinite  Wisdom,  who  can,  if  he  pleases,  make  ef- 
fectual to  his  glory,  means  which  to  us  appear  very  weak  and 
imperfect.  I  am  convinced  that  those  who  go  on  such  errands 
as  these,  must  be  divested  of  seeking  great  things  to  themselves, 
and  endeavour  to  keep  in  the  patience  of  Jesus,  which,  if  I  am 
favoured  to  do,  I  hope,  at  least,  to  return  with  the  evidence  of 
having  done  what  I  could.  I  am  not  without  apprehensions  that 
this  country  has  suflFered  much  for  want  of  being  visited  by 
■weighty  ministers  :  and,  indeed,  I  have  often  wondered  that  any 
part  of  the  Lord's  vineyard,  wherein  there  are  any  plants  of  the 
true  vine  remaining,  should  be  so  much  neglected ;  or  that  a 
country  wherein  liberty  of  conscience  is  allowed,  and  wherein 
some  of  the  people  are  inquiring  after  truth,  should  have  been 
no  more  visited  of  late  years.  Doubtless  the  difficulty  I  labour 
under  has  been  a  discouragement ;  but  I  cannot  help  thinking 
that  had  the  visits  of  Friends  been  more  frequent,  that  difficulty 
would  have  been  less  than  it  is. 

Catherine  Payton. 

SAMUEL  EMLEN  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Swansea,  8th  Mo.,  1st,  1757. 

Thy  acceptable  letter  furnished  additional  occasion  of 
reverent  thankfulness  to  thy  God  and  Father,  who,  at  times, 
brings  to  thy  remembrance  an  object  indeed  unworthy  the  no- 
tice of  his  childen,  and,  in  great  kindness,  through  them,  at 
times,  as  well  as  by  his  own  delectable  presence,  lets  me  know 


320 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


his  gracious  willingness  for  my  help  is  not  wholly  withdrawn, 
notwithstanding  the  repeated  backslidings,  and  departure  of 
heart,  which  have  been  my  sorrowful  experience,  would  long 
ago,  if  his  ways  were  like  the  ways  of  men,  or  his  thoughts  as 
the  thoughts  of  the  work  of  his  hands,  have  caused  a  total  with- 
holding of  benefits,  and  prevented  any  further  offers  of  love  so 
often  disregarded. 

I  was  yesterday  at  their  meetings  here,  in  both  of  which,  an 
entire  silence,  as  to  the  outward,  was  kept ;  and  oh  that  I  could 
have  been  more  sensible  of  a  joint  inward  labour  and  travail  of 
spirit,  for  that  sustenance  which  rightly  nourisheth  the  soul,  and 
preserves  it  vigorous,  quick,  and  lively  before  God  ;  but  alas  ! 
poverty,  weakness,  and  want  are  such,  as  perhaps  to  bring  so 
near  death's  door  as  to  be  scarcely  sensible,  sometimes,  when 
good  is  stirring  in  meetings  ;  though  at  other  seasons,  when 
quite  alone,  and  separate  from  all  outward  company,  the  Lord 
of  mercy,  in  melting  goodness,  graciously  vouchsafes  some 
touches  of  his  love ;  and  then  doth  my  heart  rejoice,  and,  with 
humble  gladness,  concludes  it  is  good  for  me  to  be  here.  Be  it 
in  whatsoever  place  it  may,  to  feel  the  renewings  of  heavenly 
favour  is  really  more  worthy  my  anxious  seeking  than  all  visible 
things,  some  of  which  have  been  very  desirable  in  my  esteem, 
and  with  great  solicitude  cared  for,  at  the  expense  of  neglecting 
the  invaluably  precious  immortal  part. 

As  the  secrets  of  the  Lord  still  continue  to  be  with  them 
that  fear  him,  distance  of  place  has  not  deprived  thee  of  a 
sense  of  my  condition,  but  the  holy  and  all-knowing  Intelli- 
gence, who  hath  heretofore  communicated  to  thee  a  know- 
ledge of  the  states  of  others,  did,  in  mercy  to  me,  again 
speak  through  thee  unto  me ;  and  thy  letters  furnish  some 
encouragement  to  endeavour  after  contentment  in  the  Divine 
allotment,  and  faithful  patience  in  his  dealings  with  me ; 
though  for  some  weeks  past  the  general  situation  of  my 
mind  hath  been  one  of  great  distress  and  pain.  A  solitary 
path  as  to  the  outward,  have  I  had  to  pass  along,  but  my  heart 


jETat.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


321 


craves  the  guidance  and  direction  of  that  wisdom  whiph  is  in- 
finite, and  that  power  all  sufficient  may  attend.  Under  these 
feelings  do  I,  at  times,  hope  for  stabihty  and  advancement  in 
the  too  little  frequented  path  of  the  tribulated  followers  of 
Jesus. 

I  am  thankful  for  thy  kind  notice  of  me,  and,  so  long  as  I  re- 
tain my  riglit  senses,  shall  be  glad  of  its  continuance  ;  and  by 
seeing  some  testimonials  of  it,  either  in  very  few  or  many  lines, 
just  as  thou  findest  thy  mind  qualified  by  that  Power  which 
hath  often  made  thee  an  instrument  of  good  to  others,  to  his  own 
glory  and  to  thy  peace.  That  his  arm  may  keep  thee  in  hours 
of  difficulty  and  deep  distress,  on  account  of  those  who  are  un- 
mindful of  their  true  and  chief  good,  is  my  great  desire. 

Samuel  Emlen,  Jun. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  8th  Mo.,  18th,  1757. 

I  am,  through  mercy,  restored  to  a  tolerable  degree 
of  health,  though  not  so  fully  confirmed  as  I  could  wish  ;  but  I 
desire  patiently  to  acquiesce  with  the  allotment  of  Providence, 
with  the  consciousness,  that  I  have  spent  my  strength  and  con- 
stitution in  the  best  of  causes,  and  I  leave  the  event  to  Him 
who  is  infinitely  wise. 

I  remember  every  branch  of  thy  family  with  a  peculiar  ten- 
derness ;  and  not  seldom  I  visit  you  in  spirit,  with  a  portion  of 
that  warmtli  I  found  when  present,  and  which  is  not  lost  nor 
extinguished  by  personal  absence. 

•  Worthy  Thomas  Brown,  I  hear,  is  removed  to  the  full  and 
everlasting  fruition  of  that  society  amongst  whom  he  happily 
conversed  in  his  pilgrimage  below,  to  abide  with  everlasting 
burnings  in  seraphic  love,  where  he  lighted  his  fire  when  he 
sacrificed  before  the  congregation.  Oh  happy,  desirable  re- 
lease from  care  and  pain,  to  freedom  and  eternal  certamty  ! 

The  chilling  winds  of  this  world's  care  can  no  more  obstruct 
42 


322 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


his  verdure  and  fragrancy,  but,  planted  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
of  life,  his  leaves  and  fruits  will  be  ever  produced,  through  all 
the  duration  of  the  everlasting  year. 

 Excuse  my  incoherent  letter ;  it  is  a  copy  of  the  pre  ^ 

sent  state  of  my  mind,  engaged  in  various  and  almost  oppres- 
sive labour,  yet  at  all  times  replenished  with  love  to  my  friends, 
and  amongst  that  number  is  very  disiinguishedly  every  branch 
of  your  family. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

Warrington,  9th  Mo.,  1757. 

I  salute  thee  and  thine  in  true  love.  I  have  often 
felt  it  strong,  and  still  perceive  it  is  of  that  nature  many  waters 
cannot  quench,  nor  can  the  distance  of  place  impair  it.  And  it 
is  a  most  singular  privilege  the  true  bom  children  enjoy  in  their 
mutual  sense  of,  and  access  to,  the  table  of  good  things,  when 
the  laws  of  matter  and  motion  deprive  them  of  personal  inter 
course.  Oh  that  we  may  know  the  renewings  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  upon  us,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  qualify  for  a  place  in  the 
Lord's  house,  and  therein  to  abide,  as  sanctified  vessels,  empty 
or  full,  as  his  wisdom  sees  meet.  My  lot  hath  been  often  among 
the  empty  vessels,  in  which  allotment  I  wish  a  wise  resignation, 
to  guard  me  against  impatience  and  insensibility.  I  have  had 
several  letters  from  my  friends  on  your  side  of  the  water,  which 
give  me  an  account  of  things  amongst  you.  I  hope  the  trials 
permitted  to  attend  you  will  tend  to  the  help  of  many,  though  I 
believe  them  very  severe  and  pinching.  The  desolations  on  your 
frontiers  are  very  distressing,  but  the  difference  in  Friends' 
judgment,  the  disunion  within  the  gates  of  our  Zion,  affords 
more  cause  of  mourning.  I  am  glad  to  hear  mutual  condescen- 
sion prevails  amongst  you,  that  ancient  signal  of  best  fellowship. 

I  nearly  sympathise  with  the  living  amongst  you  in  this 
time  of  deep  probation.  O,  that  you  all  may  stand  fast,  and 
quit  yourselves  like  men,  for  that  testimony  and  faith  once 
delivered,  and  now  revived,  to  the  saints.    In  this  heavenly 


^TAT,  41.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  323 

brotherhood  I  feel  myself  in  spirit  present  with  j'ou  in  your 
land  ;  not  as  having  left  aught  undone  which  duty  required,  but 
in  the  sweet  participation  of  the  hope,  patience,  and  tribulation 
of  the  Gospel  and  kingdom  of  Jesus  our  Lord.  And  if  the 
Church  go  into  the  wilderness,  her  place  is  prepared  of  God, 
whose  eye  looks  towards,  and  his  arm  sustains,  every  part  of 
his  extensive  family,  both  in  heaven  and  earth.  The  mourning 
of  his  heritage  is  as  audible  to  his  ear,  as  the  hosannas  of  the 
fixed  inhabitants  of  his  holy  mountain. 

For  our  part,  we  seem  (I  mean  the  Society)  to  live  in  great 
union,  but  I  fear  the  unity  of  the  one  ever  blessed  Spirit  is  not 
the  source,  but  rather  an  agreement  to  let  things  go  as  they 
may  or  will,  without  much  care  about  them  ;  and  if  any  are 
zealous  for  the  testimony,  rather  to  single  them  out  as  turners 
of  the  world  upside  down,  and  troublers  of  the  Church's 
quiet. 

For  my  own  part,  I  am  very  much  like  a  disbanded  soldier, 
or,  I  hope,  more  of  an  invalid,  yet  in  some  little  pay,  and  com- 
manded to  do  duty  in  a  particular  spot  of  ground ;  and  let  my 
Master's  good  pleasure  be  done,  and  let  him  send  by  whom  he 
will,  if  I  may  but  know  my  name  is  upon  his  roll,  it  is  enough 
for  me.  We  have  lately  had  the  company  of  a  great  stranger  ; 
my  brother  John  spent  a  few  weeks  at  Scarborough,  and  re- 
turned tliis  way  to  London  :  his  company  was  acceptable  as  a 
brollier  and  as  a  friend.  I  hope  it  may  contribute  to  his  health, 
and  the  relaxation  of  his  mind  from  a  cumber,  in  which  it  is 
very  difficult  for  the  plant  of  renown  to  flourish. 

I  feel  that  I  am  exceeeingly  near  you  at  this  lime  in  my 
spirit.  I  think  your  Yearly  Meeting  at  Philadelphia  begins 
this  day;  may  the  God  and  Father  of  sure  mercies  preside  ; 
and  as,  in  the  allotment  of  his  wisdom,  he  hath  seen  meet  to 
prove  you  deeply,  may  wisdom  and  knowledge  be  the  stability 
of  your  times.  The  establishment  of  a  meeting  for  sufferings 
was  by  many  amongst  you  little  thought  of,  as  you  sat  under 
your  own  vine  and  fig-tree  ;  many  of  you  have  rejoiced  in  the 


324 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


flowings  of  worldly  abundance,  and  not  sung  to  the  springing 
well  of  God's  salvation,  and  it  is  consistent  with  his  righte- 
ousness to  vary  his  voice,  and  teach  them,  by  the  things 
they  suffer,  what  is  due  to  his  arm,  and  the  weakness  of  our 
own. 

S.  F. 

THOMAS  GREER*  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Dungannon,  9th  Mo.,  9th,  1757. 

I  have  often  thought  of  thee  of  late,  and,  I  think,  al- 
ways attended  with  strong  desires  that  ihou  might  be  sent  to 
visit  us  in  this  nation,  (which  may  truly  be  said  to  languish  as 
to  the  life  of  religion,)  but  am  afraid  to  expect  such  a  thing  sud- 
denly, when  1  consider  the  weight  that  lies  on  thy  shoulders  in 
your  own  land,  a  painful  sense  of  which  I  have  more  than  once 
felt,  and,  in  my  small  measure,  have  sympathized  with  thee  and 
some  others  therein ;  indeed,  if  I  have  felt  right,  the  numbers 
of  those  who  are  rightly  baptized  into  the  state  of  the  Church 
are  few  with  you,  (as  well  as  here,)  considering  the  number 
of  professors  ;  yea,  and  of  those  who  lay  claim  to  something 
of  sacred  embassy  to  the  people.  But,  alas,  many  of  them  are 
too  superficial  to  feel  the  states,  and  much  less  capable  effectu- 
ally to  prescribe  for  the  recovery  from  those  things  which  weaken 
and  afflict  the  body.  It  is  indeed  a  cause  of  sorrow  to  behold  the 
leanness  and  dryness  that  has  overtaken  many ;  and  when  a  com- 
parison is  made  between  the  present  state  of  the  Church,  and  that 
healthful,  active,  green,  fruit-bearing  condition,  which  dignified 
our  worthy  predecessors,  at,  and,  after  the  breaking  forth  of 
truth  amongst  them,  the  declension  from  the  life  of  religion, 
simplicity  of  the  Gospel,  and  nobility  of  mind,  is  very  apparent. 
The  making  of  such  a  comparison  doth  often  affect  my  heart 


*  Thomas  Greer  died  in  1S03,  a  minister  upwards  of  iifty  years. 


I 


^TAT.  41.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  325 

with  pain,  and  strong  are  my  desires  that  the  few  faithful,  to 
whom  it  hath  been  given  to  see  into  the  depths  of  Satan,  may 
yet  wax  more  mighty,  in  the  wisdom  and  power  of  the  Highest. 

Dear  Samuel,  I  am  afraid  to  enlarge,  not  only  as  considering 
to  whom  I  am  writing,  but  also  that  it  may  not  be  lawful  at  all 
limes  to  speak  or  write  what  we  see  or  feel ;  but  having  often, 
as  at  present,  felt  the  free  circulation  of  that  unity  of  spirit 
which  the  Father  of  lights  hath  vouchsafed  to  give  to  his  chil- 
dren, as  a  bond  of  holy  fellowship — by  which,  though  dispersed 
in  different  lands,  we  are  bound  in  one  bundle  of  love,  and  not- 
withstanding far  absent  in  body,  yet  present  in  spirit,  being  as 
epistles  in  each  other's  hearts — I  thought  I  would  venture  to 
give  thee  these  few  lines. 

Thomas  Greer. 

CATHERINE  PAYTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL, 

Kelvedon,  9th  Mo.,  lOlh,  1757. 
I  should  some  days  ago  have  made  thee  a  sharer 
of  the  satisfaction  I  felt  on  my  return  to  my  native  land,  result- 
ing both  from  a  sense  of  having  been  absent  therefrom  in  the 
wise  appointment  of  Heaven,  and  the  gracious,  supporting, 
preserving  hand  of  the  Most  High  having  been  with  me,  for 
which  my  soul  bows  in  thankfulness,  and,  I  hope  I  may  say, 
all  within  me  worships  His  holy  name,  with  desires  to  be  de- 
voted to  his  service  through  the  residue  of  my  life  ;  but  that  this 
dispensation  of  life  and  peace  was  very  quickly  succeeded  by  its 
contrary,  wherein  I  could  not  determine  to  address  thee,  rather 
choosing  to  commit  the  keeping  of  my  soul  to  God,  than  to  my 
fellow-servants  ;  He  no  doubt,  in  the  wise  appointment  of  his 
providence,  permits  and  appoints  these  alternations  of  light 
and  darkness,  as  preservatives  to  his  people. 

I  am  now,  through  mercy,  a  little  relieved,  and  I  hope 
settled  in  my  former  service  of  ministering  principally  to  the 
members  of  our  own  Society,  which,  being  very  different  to 


I 


326  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1757- 

that  wherein  I  had  been  engaged  on  the  other  side  of  the  wa- 
ter, it  is  no  wonder  that  I  must  be  immediately  stripped  of  the 
clothes  I  then  wore,  and  be  clothed  with  a  new  suit,  which  I 
was  ready  to  think,  when  first  put  on,  were  the  plainest  I  ever 
wore,  yet  I  hope  suitable  to  the  occasion  and  time  wherein  I 
am  appointed  to  serve  in  the  Lord's  house,  which  appears  to 
me  to  be  a  time  wherein  the  people  are  not  to  be  delighted  with 
eloquent  oratory,  but  instructed  by  plain,  simple  truths,  suited 
to  their  states,  in  which  ministration  I  ardently  desire  we  may 
both  grow.  Doubtless  I  wanted  to  be  washed,  as  well  as  to 
change  my  garments,  having  been  long  amongst  men  of  unsanc- 
tified  spirits,  although  perhaps  not  such  as  are  looked  upon  by 
the  world  as  the  worst  sort :  but  I  have  found  by  experience 
that  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  converse  much  with  those 
whose  desires  are  not  subject  to  the  yoke  of  Christ,  without 
contracting  a  tincture  of  that  infectious  lightness  which  appears 
in  the  whole  course  of  their  conduct. 

We  were  eight  days  wind-bound  at  Helvoetsluys,  during 
which  time  we  were  in  company  with  several  who  came  in  the 
same  packet  to  England,  and,  but  that  I  had  some  hope  that  it 
might  some  time  be  rendered  serviceable  to  some  of  them,  would 
have  rendered  our  stay  much  more  disagreeable.  I  know  not 
but  this  little  trial  at  the  close  of  our  journey  might  be  profitable 
for  us  all,  as  it  might  further  instruct  us  in  the  necessary  lesson 
of  patience,  wherein  I  found  I  had  need  to  be  better  learned. 

My  dear  companion,  Sophia  Hume,  left  me  this  afternoon, 
being  gone  to  London. 

Catherine  Payton. 

JAMES  PEMBERTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  9th  Mo.,  15th,  1757. 
 Public  affairs  on  this  Continent  are  remark- 
able for  the  confusion  which  attends  them.     None  of  the 
attempts  in  a  military  way  have  answered  the  expectations 


^TAT.  41.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


327 


of  the  people,  but,  on  the  contrary,  every  thing  thej'^  have  yet 
prepared  to  do  hath  contributed  to  strengthen  the  French.  I 
do  not  incline  to  be  particular,  further  than  to  remark,  that  in 
proportion  to  the  increase  of  these  tumults,  so,  in  some  measure, 
advance  the  trials  and  probations  of  our  poor  Society.  And, 
amidst  all  the  gloomy  prospects,  I  am  at  times  led  to  conclude 
none  occasions  more  sorrowful  reflections,  than  the  present 
state  of  the  Church,  many  of  whose  members,  by  a  long  enjoy- 
ment of  ease  and  tranquillity,  have  become  too  insensible  of  the 
dignity  of  our  calling,  and  in  this  day  of  trial  start  aside  ;  which 
affords  occasion  to  look  back,  and  consider  the  close  engage- 
ments and  labours  of  the  Lord's  servants,  who  have  been  sent 
amongst  us,  to  warn,  and  caution,  and  proclaim  the  necessity  of 
being  roused  from  the  lethargy  which  hath  prevailed,  in  order 
to  prepare  for  such  a  time  of  trial  as  hath  overtaken  us  ;  and 
happy  would  it  have  been,  if  more  regard  had  been  paid  to 
such  messages.  The  testimony  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  would 
be  less  violated  than  hath  been  too  visibly  the  case  lately,  by 
evasions  and  temporising,  of  which  there  have  been  painful 
instances  on  a  late  occasion  in  the  Jerseys,  where  the  da)'  of 
trial  hath  been  more  closely  manifested  than  at  any  time  during 
the  late  agitations  ;  the  unfaithfulness  of  some  hath  contributed 
to  the  burdens  of  the  few  who  were  concerned  to  stand  their 
ground. 

Amidst  the  present  calamitous  circumstances,  it  affords  cause 
of  thankfulness  that  the  extendings  of  Divine  regard  are  so  sig- 
nally manifested  towards  us,  by  the  continuance  of  the  messen- 
gers of  the  Gospel,  sent  to  labour  amongst  us ;  we  have  now 
six  European  Friends  in  these  parts,  the  company  of  all  of 
whom  we  expect  at  our  approaching  Yearly  Meeting.  John 
Hunt  hath  spent  most  part  of  the  summer  in  this  province, 
where  his  ministry,  and  other  Christian  endeavours,  have  been 
attended  with  evidences  of  Divine  favour. 

Our  Meeting  for  Sufferings  hath  met  pretty  diligently 
since  its  establishment,  and  a  variety  of  occurrences  have 


328  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1757. 

presented  ;  in  the  transaction  whereof  I  hope  nothing  hath  been 
done  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  cause  of  Truth. 

I  cannot  but  acknowledge  how  much  I  am  obHged  to  thee 
for  th)'  kind  letter,  which  I  shall  endeavour  duly  to  regard.  It 
gives  me  some  satisfaction  to  be  so  far  noticed  by  the  Lord's 
servants,  and  I  am  frequently  desirous  of  so  conducting  as  to 
be  preserved  at  least  from  injuring  the  testimony,  or  of  adminis- 
tering uneasiness  to  them. 

I  am,  with  much  regard  and  affection, 
Thy  loving  Friend, 

James  Pemberton. 

SAMUEL  EMLEN  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Bristol,  9th  Mo.,  26th,  1757. 

Thy  affectionate  lines  I  esteem  an  additional  confirma- 
tion of  the  continuance  of  that  friendship,  wherein,  so  long  as  I 
am  divinely  assisted  to  be  steadfast  in  the  pursuit  of  true  peace, 
I  shall  always  have  cause  to  rejoice.  Sure  I  am,  that  notwith- 
standing the  ties  of  nature  in  external  affinity  are  strong,  there 
seems  to  me  to  be  in  the  Truth  connexions  much  more  firm,  by 
which  the  really  living  in  the  body,  whereof  Christ  Jesus  is  the 
holy  head,  are  united  one  to  another.  As  we  are  humbly  and 
reverently  engaged  to  keep  in  this  unity,  no  greater  joy  will  be 
experienced  by  any  one  of  us  than  a  confirmed  sense  of  the 
increasing  strength  in  ourselves  and  fellow-members,  and  the 
advancement  of  each  individual  in  Divine  favour. 

Thy  remark,  that  "  to  move  in  the  line  of  Divine  appoint- 
"  ment,  is  our  strength  and  safety,"  is,  I  doubt  not,  the  language 
of  well-grounded  experience,  and  I  trust  will  be  at  times 
profitably  suggested  to  me  when  doubts  and  wavering  surround 
my  weak  mind. 

The  Western  Yearly  Meeting,  held  at  Milverton,  was,  in 
several  of  its  sittings,  greatly  overshadowed  with  the  life- 
giving  presence  and  power  of  the  Most  High,  to  his  own 


iETAT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


329 


glory,  and  the  comfort  of  many,  who  I  beheve  have  returned 
to  their  own  habitations  with  peace  and  gladness.  Isaac 
Sharpies,  Edmund  Peckover,  Samuel  Hopwood,  John  Fry, 
William  Cookworthy,  and  six  or  eight  other  ministers  were 
there  ;  the  service  of  the  meeting  was  pretty  much  on  the 
first  two  ;  there  was  a  little  company  met  early  on  the  first 
day  morning  preceding  the  meeting,  and  six  or  seven  elders 
were  desired  to  have  the  oversight  of  the  ministry,  and  to 
caution  privately  where  occasion  might  offer ;  I  believe  the 
meeting  was  upon  the  whole  satisfactory,  both  to  those  of  our 
Society  and  others.  The  people  will  be  glad  of  future  oppor- 
tunities of  this  kind. 

 Be  assured  I  am  not  insensible  of  my  own  condi- 
tion, and  of  the  need  I  have  to  be  watched  over  as  a  child, 
and  I  think  greater  poverty  and  weakness  seem  to  be  my  daily 
experience  ;  that  this  dispensation  may  be  patiently  (not  with 
eupineness  and  indolence)  acquiesced  in,  that  the  will  of  the 
Highest  may  be  thoroughly  done,  in  and  by  me,  is  my  earnest 
desire.  I  have  been  often  brought  to  more  than  wiUingness  to 
be  what  the  Lord  would  have  me  to  be,  but  under  the  operation 
of  his  hand  there  is  need  of  patience,  which,  if  he  graciously 
furnish,  it  will  be  sufficient. 

Samuel  Emlen,  Jun. 

ANTHONY  BENEZET*  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  10th  Mo.,  1st,  1757. 

Nothing  but  the  deepest  sense  of  inward  poverty 
could  have  so  long  prevented  my  writing  to  thee,  my  dear 

*  Of  this  virtuous,  humble  man,  so  well  known  for  his  philanthropy, 
and  as  an  early  and  strenuous  opposer  of  the  Slave-trade,  little  need  be 
said  here.  He  was  born  at  St.  Quintin,  in  France,  in  1713.  He  was  of  a 
respectable  family ;  his  father,  a  wealthy  man,  was  a  Protestant,  and, 
along  with  many  others,  was  obliged,  by  the  persecutions  which  followed 
the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  to  seek  a  shelter  in  a  foreign  land  ; 
43 


330 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


and  near  friend.  But  thus  it  halh  been,  that  I  have  not 
dared  to  meddle  with  religious  things  ;  when  1  have  done  it, 
especially  in  writing,  it  has  been  with  rebuke,  and  now  1 
am  at  a  loss  what  to  add.  That  my  love  is  as  entire  to  thee 
as  so  low  a  creature  is  capable  of,  is  fixed  and  certain.  But 
what  shall  1  say  1  0  my  leanness,  my  leanness — it  is  beyond 
expression,  and  so  sensibly  felt  by  me,  that  I  dare  not  as  it 
were  extend  any  farther,  lest  I  should  defile  God's  jewels. 
Though  a  beggar  may  have  a  prospect  of  the  order  and 
beauty  of  God's  house,  and  can  even  at  a  distance  see,  and 
apprehend  he  can  distinguish  the  furniture  of  it,  yet  shall  he 
presume,  while  clothed  in  rags,  to  enter  therein  ?  Will  he 
not  defile  the  same,  and  be  the  greater  object  of  scorn,  in- 
stead of  pity  ?  Perhaps  a  time  may  come  when  a  washing 
and  pulling  off  the  filthy  rags  of  nature  may  be  known,  and  a 
better  clothing  experienced. 

Thus  far  I  have  written,  and  that  not  without  a  rebuke,  but 
could  not  longer  delay  expressing  my  sincere  love  to  thee,  dear 
friend.  Why  is  it  so  with  me?  — if  thou  hast  any  comfort  or 
counsel  to  communicate,  do  it  I  beseech  thee.  May  the  God 
of  all  consolation  be  with  thee. 

From  thy  afflicted  friend, 

Anthony  Benezet. 

he  acfiordinijly  removed  with  his  family  to  London,  and  afterwards  to  Phil- 
adelphia. His  son  Anthony  joined  the  Society  of  Friends,  about  the  four- 
teenth year  of  his  age,  and  for  the  greater  part  of  his  life  pursued  the  useful 
occupation  of  a  schoolmaster.  A  competent  judge  has  pronounced  him 
"  one  of  the  most  zealous,  vigilant,  and  active  advocates  which  the  cause 
"  of  the  oppressed  Africans  ever  had." 

After  a  life  spent  in  endeavouring  to  serve  God,  and  eminently  devoted 
to  the  service  of  his  fellow-creatures,  he  died,  aged  71  years,  on  the  3d  of 
5th  Month,  1784. 

At  his  interment  the  greatest  concourse  of  persons,  of  all  ranks  and  pro- 
fessions, was  present,  that  had  ever  been  witnessed  on  such  an  occasion  in 
Philadelphia.  Several  hundred  black  people  attended  to  testify  their  regard 
for  this  friend  of  their  oppressed  race,  and  of  mankind  at  large. 


JETAT.  41.]  OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. ' 


331 


ABRAHAM    FARRINGTON   TO   SAMUEL    AND  SUSANNA 
FOTIIERGILL. 

York,  10th  Mo.,  1st,  1757. 

This  may  just  inform  you  that  I  yet  Hve,  although 
my  suffering  at  times  is  considerable,  both  in  head  and  heart. 
Indeed,  such  is  the  state  of  the  Church  in  general,  that  I  think 
I  am  called  to  suffer  with  it,  both  in  body  and  mind — the  whole 
head  is  sick,  and  the  whole  heart  faint.  The  mystery  as  well 
as  the  misery  is,  that  so  few  lay  it  to  heart,  or  seek  relief.  To 
have  the  earth  cleave  under  us,  or  the  sea  overflowing  us,  would 
cause  great  lamentation  and  outcry ;  yet  to  see  the  world,  earth, 
and  sea,  swallowing  up  almost  whole  counties,  in  a  religious 
sense,  and  we  at  ease,  and  thinking  all  is  well,  is  surprising. 

Thy  letters  were  to  my  comfort — as  a  glass  wherein  we 
sometimes  see  one  another — so  excellent  is  this  kind  of  cor- 
respondence to  distant  friends  ;  sometimes  like  apples  of  gold 
in  pictures  of  silver —pictures  set  up  in  our  best  room,  i.  e.  the 
heart— or  as  nails  in  a  sure  place — or  as  goads,  to  prick  one  ano- 
ther forward,  or  to  keep  back ;  for  poor  oxen,  old  oxen,  with  a 
load,  go  heavily  and  dull}'  up  hill,  and  sometimes  run  too  fast 
down.  These  epistles  renew  the  epistles  formerly  written  in 
our  hearts  ;  such  have  been  thy  kind  letters  with  divers  others 
from  worthy  friends.  I  received  one  from  John  Pemberton,  and 
one  from  John  Churchman,  who  says,  "We  are  now  going  to 
*'  an  Indian  treaty,  to  be  held  at  East-town,  in  Bucks  county, 
"  though  we  have  been  repeatedly  informed  by  the  governor 

that  it  was  his  desire  we  should  not  attend,  as  we  had  done 
"  at  some  times  heretofore,  from  an  intimation  which  he  had 
"  received  from  the  Proprietary,  that  it  was  offensive  to  the 
"  Ministry  in  England.  Our  sense  of  duty  in  this  affair,  at  this 
"  critical  conjuncture,  is  too  deeply  impressed  to  be  rubbed  out 
"  by  repulses,  or  disdainful  flouts,  arising  from  misconstructions 

of  our  intentions,  which  are  pretty  Uberally  bestowed  on  us  at 


.132 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


"present;  but  our  proceedings,  manifesting  the  sincerity  of 
"  our  intentions,  when  they  come  to  appear  in  public  view,  may 
"  set  thinffs  in  another  lijrht." 

Thus  we  see  how  that  which  lets  will  let,  until  it  is  taken 
out  of  the  way  ;  but,  surely,  if  Friends  keep  their  places  in  the 
Truth,  there  is  no  sword  formed  against  it  which  will  prosper, 
and  every  tongue  rising  against  its  judgment,  will  be  condemn- 
ed. And  I  am  persuaded  that  stillness  and  patience,  when  we 
have  done  our  duty  honestly,  are  safest  to  abide  in;  and  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  Lord  will  make  a  way  for  his  Truth  and 
people,  and  their  enemies  will  fall. 

I  came  almost  directly  from  the  Northern  dales  to  this  place. 

Let  us  not  forget  the  rock,  nor  the  hole  of  the  pit  from  whence 
we  were  dug;  it  is  a  rugged  place  to  get  to  and  from — I  left  it 
too  soon.  If  I  should  have  my  age  renewed,  and  wings  as  an 
eagle,  or  as  a  giant  refreshed  with  wine  from  the  True  Vine  ; 
or,  in  thy  language,  warmed  with  fire  from  above  ;  or,  if  my 
Master  would  give  the  signal,  and  array  me  with  his  own  livery, 
I  would  venture  his  pay.  This,  with  dear  love,  from  your 
poor  old  friend, 

Abraham  Farrington. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  10th  Mo.,  3d,  1757. 

I  am  poor,  very  poor :  I  have  a  fund  of  affection 
and  tenderness,  but  even  that  is  at  times  almost  inaccessible, 
and  then  how  can  I  bring  it  forth?  I  may  claim  thy  affec- 
tionate sympathy,  and  perhaps,  if  at  any  painful  hour  the 
like  may  attend  thee,  it  may  suggest  relief,  in  that  thou  art 
not  alone.  The  alternations  of  light  and  darkness  are  neces- 
sarily appointed ;  in  the  first  creation  of  this  world,  night 
intervened  betwixt  the  days ;  if  so,  in  the  days  of  purity 
and  innocence,  what  may  not  be  expected,  when  transgression 
and  offences  have  brought  an  interruption  of  order  and  har- 


^taT.  41.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


333 


mony  ?  Nay,  if  the  Almighty  Former  have  renewed  into  new- 
ness of  nature,  the  day  and  the  night  remain  in  Divine  wisdom, 
in  the  necessary  variety  of  the  new  creation,  that  each  may  show 
forth  their  wonders,  and  speak  his  praise  who  ordained  them. 
Thus,  beloved  sister,  friend,  and  fellow-traveller  towards  the 
mountain  where  the  Lord  rests,  having  finished  his  work  to  per- 
fection, we  may  learn  to  rejoice  in  tribulation,  sustained  by  a 
lively  hope  that  neither  heights,  nor  depths,  things  past,  present, 
nor  to  come,  shall  separate  us  from  that  love  which  is  stronger 
than  death,  though  the  trials  thereof  may  be  manifold. 

 I  am  relievingly  sensible  of  best  help  and  strength 

renewed  to  act  and  live  to  my  own  peace,  and  the  advantage  of 
others  ;  as  a  person,  embarrassed  in  a  dark  wilderness,  without 
a  path  or  light,  beholds  with  joy  the  return  of  day,  and  the  pros- 
pect of  the  dwellings  of  men,  so  hath  my  exercised  spirit,  after 
a  painful,  yet  profitable  baptism,  again  beheld  His  face  in  the 
Light,  and  found  myself  amongst  his  shepherds'  tents,  may  the 
gain  and  glory  be  ascribed  where  it  is  ever  due. 

I  am,  in  the  bonds  of  sincerest  affection. 

Thy  loving  Brother, 

S.  F. 

MARY  PEMBERTON  TO  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  10th  Mo.,  13th,  1757. 

I  am  at  times  mercifully  favoured  with  a  degree  of  that 
united  love,  which  in  its  Divine  nature  and  efficacy  cements  the 
hearts  of  its  true  votaries,  and  makes  them  dear  to  each  other, 
though  personally  unacquainted  ;  it  is  in  this  sort  that  thou,  my 
friend,  hast  been  often  brought  to  my  mind,  as  well  as  a  near 
remembrance  of  the  deep  travail  and  unwearied  labour  of  thy 
dear  husband  in  the  glorious  work  of  the  Gospel,  in  which  my 
spirit  hath  frequently  been  greatly  refreshed  under  a  variety  of  ^ 
exercises  and  close  baptisms,  and  doubt  not  but  many  besides 


334 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


myself  do  both  now,  and  will  hereafter,  reap  the  advantage  of 
excellent  fruits  produced  by  his  nninistry,  as  well  as  that  of 
divers  others  of  our  valuable  friends,  eminently  gifted  and  quali- 
fied, and  sent  to  us  in  an  acceptable  tinae,  which  to  me  seems 
an  evident  demonstration  of  Heavenly  regard,  and  that  the  ever- 
lasting Arm  of  Sufficiency  is  still  stretched  forth  to  gather  a 
people,  whose  progenitors  were  not  only  blessed  with  the  dew 
of  heaven,  but  also  with  the  fatness  of  the  earth  ;  outward  peace 
and  tranquillity  filled  their  borders,  and  the  sound  of  war  they 
were  strangers  to  ;  but,  alas  !  the  scene  is  greatly  changed,  and 
I  believe  many  of  the  offspring  of  those  worthies,  who  are  en- 
tered into  their  heavenly  mansionsi  have  too  lightly  esteemed 
their  father's  God,  and  the  Rock  of  their  salvation  ;  neverthe- 
less, there  are  yet  a  number  whose  trust  and  confidence  is  in 
him  alone,  and  these  at  times  are  favoured  with  the  spirit  of  in- 
tercession, that  the  descendants  of  his  people  may  not  be  cast 
off,  but  that  he  may  be  graciously  pleased  yet  to  make  choice 
of  them,  though  it  may  be  in  the  furnace  of  affliction. 

This  is  designed  by  our  valuable  friend  Thomas  Gawlhorp, 
whose  visit  has  been  very  acceptable  and  serviceable,  I  believe 
in  general,  in  a  particular  manner  so  to  myself,  having  his  com- 
pany in  the  house  in  a  time  when  nearly  tried  ;  my  only  daughter 
being  visited  with  a  dangerous  illness,  which  reduced  her  so 
low,  that  for  many  days  I  despaired  of  her  recovery,  and  she 
herself  did  not  expect  it ;  though  she  had  been  a  hopeful  child, 
it  was  to  her  a  season  of  deep  probation,  and  a  winnowing  time, 
in  which  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  manifest  to  her  the  emptiness 
of  every  temporal  enjoyment  without  that  of  his  Divine  pre- 
sence, for  wliich  she  was  in  great  distress  ;  and  as  it  hath 
pleased  him  to  raise  her,  even  from  the  brink  of  the  grave,  I 
hope,  and  earnestly  desire,  it  may  prove  a  lasting,  profitable 
visitation  to  her.  She,  with  the  rest  of  our  children,  retain 
an  affectionate  remembrance  of  thy  dear  husband,  and  enter- 
tain, at  times,  a  pleasing  prospect  of  once  more  seeing 


^TAT.  41.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  335 

liim  in  Philadelphia,  at  which  many  beside  them  would 
rejoice. 

Mary  Pemberton. 

JOHN  CHURCHMAN  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

East  Nottingham,  lOlh  Mo.,  15lh,  1757. 

 I  think  that  this  Yearly  Meeting,  during  the 

lime  of  our  silting  on  the  affairs  of  the  Society,  was  as  much 
favoured  as  any  meeting  I  was  ever  in  ;  which  is,  indeed,  great 
cause  of  solemn  thankfulness.  We  had  the  company  of  many 
of  our  youth,  who  sat  with  a  reverent  attention,  and  some  spoke 
to  the  business  to  my  admiration  ;  so  that,  notwithstanding  all 
our  troubles,  which  are  many,  I  dare  not  yet  conclude  that  the 
Lord  intends  to  destroy  us,  but  rather  to  instruct  by  a  rod  of 
correction. 

Dear  Samuel,  as  to  myself,  I  dare  not  say  much,  being 
never  more  sensible  that  of  myself  I  am  weakness  altogether.  I 
have  known  few  times  of  greater  purgation  than  of  late,  which 
has  made  way  for  a  greater  degree  of  purity  for  a  time,  and 
the  text  says — The  pure  in  heart  shall  see  God ;  and,  indeed,  it 
is  only  in  a  state  of  purity  that  the  Lord  reveals  his  secrets, 
and  opens  those  things  which  to  the  world  and  its  spirit  have 
been  kept  secret  from  the  foundation  of  the  world. 

 In  many  places  there  is  a  young  generation  coming 

up,  who  will  take  the  burthen  willingly  upon  them,  not  of  con- 
straint but  of  a  ready  mind,  and  the  work  will  prosper  in  their 
hands,  though  at  present  they  may  be  reproached  by  such 
Sauls,  who,  at  times,  know  the  anointing  is  upon  the  young, 
and  the  Spirit  is  in  them,  though  departed  from  themselves, 
because  of  disobedience  :  and  who  more  jealous  and  spiteful 
than  such  at  times  are  ? 

John  Churchman. 


336 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1757. 


ANTHONY  BENEZET  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  lOlh  Mo.,  17th,  1757. 

I  herewith  send  thee  a  new  edition  of  John  Everard's 
writings  ;  a  book,  on  the  reading  of  which,  often,  light  and  a 
degree  of  life  have  been  communicated.  Doubtless  thou  art 
not  unacquainted  with  it ;  but,  as  it  is  scarce  to  be  met  with 
amongst  you,  I  thought  it  might  not  be  unacceptable  to  thee  or 
thy  neighbours.  However,  it  is  the  best  token  I  am  at  present 
capable  of  sending  thee  of  my  remembrance  and  love  ;  which 
is  as  sincere  and  entire  as  my  poor  weak  heart  is  capable  of. 
May  the  Almighty  be  thy  guide  and  strength !  Painful  in 
many,  very  many  respects,  is  our  situation,  particularly  mine, 
under  an  uncommon  sense  of  poverty  and  desertion.  0,  the 
weakness,  the  instability,  the  self,  the  remains  of  a  subtle  pride 
that  hangs  about  human  nature,  even  of  those  thai  are  esteemed 
good  and  wise  in  the  main.  How  liable  to  change,  waver,  and 
run  from  one  extreme  to  the  other.  Well,  I  hope  I  am  cured 
from  any  more  dependence  and  expectation  from  man.  May  I 
steadily  seek  comfort  and  establishment  in  God  alone,  by  retire- 
ment, silence,  and  prayer  ! 

I  have  often  desired  to  write  to  thee  at  large,  concerning 
the  present  situation  of  our  affairs,  but  have  been  let  hitherto 
for  want  of  a  sufficient  freedom  thereto.  Perhaps  it  is  best 
it  should  be  so.  I  may  with  pleasure  say,  that  there  con- 
tinues to  be  a  great  shaking  amongst  our  dry  bones ;  the 
hearts  of  many  amongst  us,  especially  the  youth,  are  touched 
with  love  and  zeal  for  God  ;  may  they  abide  the  trial  better 
than  I  have  done,  and  escape  the  many  snares  which  the 
enemy  seems  to  strengthen  himself  to  lay  in  their  way.  The 
world  and  the  flesh  allure  on  the  one  hand,  and  when  that 
is  in  measure  overcome,  another  dangerous  snare  presents, 
from  a  kind  of  enthusiastic  spirit,  which  I  apprehend  very 
much  prevails,  and  often,  too  often,  presents  itself  amongst 


^TAT.  42.] 


OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


337 


the  sons  of  God,  even  in  otherwise  honest-hearted  ones.  A 
mixed  fire,  in  a  great  measure  proceeding  from  the  passions  of 
the  creature  being  warmed  and  raised  by  that  which  has  the 
appearance  of  zeal,  and  even  in  some,  I  have  feared,  from  the 
melody  of  their  own  voice,  which  miakes  the  creature  imagine 
it  is  as  on  the  mount,  when  its  fruits,  its  spirit,  and  its  brethren's 
religious  sense  declare  it  is  not.  And  this  spirit,  not  being  suf- 
ficiently learned  by  that  meekness,  diffidence,  and  doubt  which 
accompanies  the  true  gospel,  is  impatient  of  contradiction,  and 
very  apt  to  smite  at  the  honest  fellow-servant,  when  put  on  re- 
examining its  attainment,  prospect,  and  foundation.  From  these 
two  extremes,  joined  to  my  own  great  poverty,  arise  pain,  and 
often  deep  anxiety.  I  need  not  desire  thee  to  excuse  my  irre- 
gularity and  freedom.  I  know  thy  sympathising  heart  can  bear 
with  the  poor  and  weak.  Only  I  would  desire  that,  as  often  as 
thou  finds  freedom,  thou  virouldest  let  me  hear  from  thee. 

I  salute  thee,  dear  friend,  and  thy  wife,  and  in  the  nearest 
and  dearest  manner  bid  thee  farewell. 

Anthony  Benezet. 

CATHERINE  PAYTON  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Dudley,  11th  Mo.,  11th,  1757. 
  Our  Quarterly  Meeting  is  to  be  held  at  Wor- 
cester ;  I  should  be  truly  glad  of  thy  company,  where  perhaps 
it  might  be  singularly  serviceable,  as  nothing  has  been  done  in 
my  absence,  in  America,  towards  the  proper  settlement  of  a 
meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  and  it  is  hard  for  me  to  act 
single  handed  in  such  weighty  affairs. 

 I  am  convinced  that  the  bond  of  our  friendship  is 

purity,  and  a  joint  concern  for  the  honour  of  God  and  for  the 
good  of  mankind  ;  and  I  have  long  thought,  if  we  are  mutually 
favoured  to  keep  our  places  in  the  Church  militant,  some  sin- 
gular good  will  accrue  from  it.  It  is  the  earnest,  steadfast  prayer 
of  my  soul,  that  the  purposes  of  Him  who  has  graciously  called 
44 


93B 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[i75r 


US  into  his  vineyard,  in  the  morning  of  our  day,  may  be  ful- 
filled, by  our  steady  advancement  from  stage  to  stage  in  our 
sacred  employment,  and  acting  in  every  station  and  relation  ap- 
pointed to  us  in  life,  to  the  honour  of  Him  that  haa  called  us  to 
glory  and  to  virtue. 

I  can  say  truly,  that  for  a  series  of  years  I  have  had  nothing 
so  much  in  view  as  the  filling  up  that  measure  of  righteousness 
whereunto  I  am  called ;  and  if,  in  looking  forward  in  life,  I  have 
been  suffered  to  take  in  any  prospect,  which  in  the  apprehen- 
sion of  some  might  savour  of  creaturely  gratification,  it  has  been 
in  the  simplicity  of  my  heart,  from  its  appearing  with  the  face  of 
rectitude,  at  the  same  time  standing  open  to  the  immediate  con- 
victions of  Truth,  or  the  intermediate  assistance"  of  its  servants 
in  the  suppression  of  delusion  ;  and  if  I  am  at  last  suffered  to 
fall,  it  it  with  an  anxious  desire  to  stand,  let  the  consequence, 
with  regard  to  the  body  or  things  appertaining  to  this  life,  be 
what  it  may.  To  give  up  the  world,  even  at  the  Divine  com- 
mand, and  in  exchange  for  an  infinitely  better  inheritance,  to 
a  mind  that  is  centered  therein  appears  much,  but  to  one 
that  can  reap  no  satisfaction  from  any  temporal  good,  but  as 
it  is  received  and  used  as  the  gift  of  God,  it  is  a  small 
matter  ;  and  as  to  partake  of  it  affords  to  the  one  a  delusive 
pleasure,  so  to  the  other  pain  and  anxious  care,  which  is 
only  rendered  easy  or  tolerable  by  a  sense  of  being  engaged 
therein,  in  and  by  the  direction  of  Heaven  :  so  true  do  we 
find  by  experience  that  assertion  of  our  Lord,  "  In  the  world 
ye  shall  have  trouble,  but  in  me  peace."  My  mind,  dear 
friend,  has  been  very  humblingly  exercised  for  some  days 
past,  which  may,  perhaps,  have  fixed  these  thoughts  rather 
deeper  than  usual. 

In  my  late  turn  amongst  you,  I  may  say,  with  the  Apostle, 
I  was  with  you  in  weakness,  in  fear,  and  in  much  trembling 
of  soul,  and  was  more  likely  to  conclude  that  I  had  lost, 
than  gained  strength  and  wisdom,  in  the  exercise  of  the  gift 
I  am  intrusted  with  ;  which  humbling  dispensation  I  know 


MTXT.  42.]  OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL.  339 

was  profitable,  at  the  close  of  a  journey,  wherein  I  had  been 
sometimes  remarkably  favoured. 

Catherine  Payton. 

In  the  11th  Month,  1757,  Samuel  Fothergill  had  a  certificate 
from  the  Monthly  Meeting,  to  visit  the  meetings  of  Friends  in 
the  city  of  London  :  no  account  of  this  visit  remains,  but  some 
allusion  is  made  to  it  in  the  following  letter. 

LYDIA  LANCASTER  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Lancaster,  12th  Mo.,  4th,  1757. 
Thy  lines  were  very  acceptable  to  me  indeed,  joining 
so  much  in  one  with  the  concern  of  my  own  mind,  in  which  I 
was  ready  to  think  I  had  been  almost,  if  not  altogether  alone  ; 
and  notwithstanding  the  weight  we  have  laboured  under,  from 
the  sorrowful  apprehension  and  gloomy  views  we  have  had  ; 
from  all  which  we  have  been  deeply  bowed  in  supplication,  with 
the  cry  of — "  Oh,  Lord,  spare  thy  people,"  and  yet,  still  resign- 
ing all  to  an  all-seeing,  all-wise  Providence,  who  only  knows 
the  turning  of  every  heart,  and  the  humiliation  of  every  soul, 
and  can  divert  his  judgments  as  he  will :  in  whose  will  and  holy 
counsel  may  we  ever  stand  fast !  for  I  believe  that  what  he  suf- 
fers and  brings  to  pass,  in  this  nation,  will  turn  out  to  his  own 
praise  and  honour,  and  to  the  glory  and  enlargement  of  his 
Church.  I  was  truly  glad  on  reading  of  thy  visit  to  London. 
My  spirit  said  "  Amen"  to  it,  yea,  and  prayer  filled  my  soul  to 
Him  that  hath  all  wisdom  and  power,  that  he  might  not  only 
put  thee  forth,  but  also  clearly  give  thee  to  see  thy  way, 
place,  and  service,  in  every  meeting,  preserving  thee  still 
within  the  bounds  of  thy  commission,  rather  within  than 
over,  for  a  shortness  is  easier  to  mend  than  an  overplus, 
while  sometimes  the  fervour  of  our  spirits  is  ready  (without 
steady  care  and  watching)  to  take  a  flight,  to  the  detriment 
of  the  whole  :  thou  wilt  bear  with  me,  as  an  old  friend, 
who  has  in  measure  learned  to  know  the  depths  of  Satan, 


340 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


and  also  some  degree  of  the  majesty  of  godliness.  My  love  to 
thee  runs  parallel  to  that  of  ray  own  soul.  May  the  rock  of  Is- 
rael's slrenglh,  safety,  and  refreshment  be  daily  revealed,  for 
thee  to  lean  upon  ;  that  in  body  and  soul,  which  are  his,  thou 
may  be  supported  to  finish  thy  service  abroad,  and  to  return  with 
a  weighty  sheaf  of  peace,  is  the  sincere  desire  of  my  soul. 

It  is  not  without  difficulty  that  I  write,  having  for  two  months 
past  been  more  troubled  with  my  old  complaint,  the  asthma, 
than  ever  before  ;  though  I  manage  to  get  to  meetings  mostly, 
yet  it  is  with  much  hardship,  for  my  breathing  is  so  obstructed, 
that  I  can  speak  but  a  few  words  together. 

  Farewell,  my  friend  and  brother  in  the  nearest  kin- 
dred. 

Lydia  Lancaster. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  TABITHA  ECROYD. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  12th,  1758. 

So  strong  and  engaging  is  that  precious  unity,  which 
is  the  bond  and  cement  of  the  family  in  heaven  and  earth,  as  of- 
ten lo  bring  each  other  into  fresh  remembrance  ;  the  connexion 
is  stronger  than  nature  suggests  ;  and  in  a  fresh  spring  thereof, 
my  mind  this  evening  was  a  little  warmed  towards  thee  ;  though, 
indeed,  such  is  my  present  poverty  and  leanness  as  to  furnish  lit- 
tle worth  thy  notice,  unless  it  be  agreeable  to  know  that  I  feel 
a  relation  to  thee  in  the  tribulation  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  ;  in 
which  tribulation  I  can  at  times  rejoice  :  so  it  behooves  the  gos- 
pel minister  to  follow  his  Captain  and  Lord,  who  was  made 
perfect  in  the  feelings  of  humanity,  and,  if  possible,  added  glo- 
ry to  his  divinity,  by  suffering  and  crucifixion. 

My  house  hath  not  been  so  ordered  with  God,  but  that 
I  have  administered  too  frequent  occasion  for  anxiety  and 
sorrow  ;  I  hope  I  have  learned  from  the  things  I  have 
suffered  to  be  more  vigilant  for  the  future,  and  endeavour 
evermore  to  keep  the  holy  fire  alive  and  burning,  to  dress 


^TAT.  42.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


341 


the  daily  sacrifice  ;  for  when  that  once  ceases,  abomination  will 
stand  in  that  place,  which  ought  to  be  a  receptacle  for  the  Lord 
of  purity  and  perfection. 

I  write  it  with  a  deeply  feeling  heart ;  I  have  nothing  to  glory 
in  but  in  tlie  Lord,  and  in  his  showing  mercy  and  loving  kind- 
ness ;  my  goings  in  his  service  and  sanctuary  are  imperfect ; 
weakness  and  imbecility  in  his  work  at  times  cover  me  with 
confusion,  and,  in  times  of  greatest  help  and  blessed  owning,  I 
can  say  righteousness  belongs  to  him,  who  only  is  holy,  but 
unto  me  blushing  and  confusion  of  face. 

It  is  a  great  and  glorious  thing  to  possess  our  vessels  in 
sanctification  and  honour,  meet  for  the  reception  of  the  oil  of 
consolation ;  and  to  have  our  garments  so  unspotted  from  the 
dust,  as  to  bear  an  invariable,  uniform  resemblance  of  that 
attire,  which  is  a  garment  of  praise  throughout  the  extensive 
regions  of  our  Lord  and  Master's  empire. 

I  write  this  undesignedly,  and  without  as  much  doubt  of  thee 
as  of  myself.  O  may  we  wait  in  the  court  of  the  temple  the 
appointed  time,  for  our  admission  into  that  which  is  within  the 
veil,  and  improve  to  profit  every  revolution  of  the  Lord's  seasons, 
whether  they  are  the  singing  of  birds,  the  joyful  chorus  of  souls 
raised  at  times  above  the  clogs  of  mortality,  or,  with  immacu 
late  Purity,  and  the  Heir  of  Glory,  breathe  out,  Eloi,  lama 
sabachthani. 

Few,  very  few,  there  are  who  are  baptized  into  this  cloud  ; 
there  are  many  instructors,  even  amongst  us,  who  had  need  to  be 
afresh  instructed  in  the  oracles  of  religion  ;  a  superficial  ministry 
in  some  places  hath  prevailed,  and  in  others,  imperfect  births 
and  deformed  productions  have  proclaimed,  in  the  ears  of  the 
intelligent,  their  remoteness  from  the  Lord  of  order.  If  minis- 
ters are  not  baptized  into  the  cloud  (which,  though  dark  and 
heavy,  has  in  it  the  Divine  rain),  they  cannot  minister  of  its  dew 
to  others.  Men,  yea  corrupt  men,  may  hold  their  persons  and 
gifts  in  admiration,  and  speak  well  of  them,  but  praise  of  the 
uninitiated  is  a  wound  to  the  soul  of  the  true  servemts,  who  seek 


342 


MEMOIRS  AND  LliTTERS 


[1758. 


their  Master's  praise,  and  not  their  own.  Where  the  Lord  hath 
dignified  his  servants,  and  made  them  angels  indeed,  they  have 
been  lusted  after  with  disguised  impurity,  as  the  angels  sent  to 
Sodom  were.  It  remains,  therefore,  for  us,  dear  friend,  to  watch 
unto  prayer,  that  we  may  stand  in  the  trying  day,  and  be  enabled 
to  fill  up  our  places  with  dignity  and  usefulness,  and  close  our 
race  with  peace. 

I  may  just  add,  no  time  of  my  pilgrimage  hath  elapsed  wherein 
I  have  found  greater  necessity  to  walk  in  daily  reverence  for  my 
own  keeping,  and,  for  the  discharge  of  the  portion  of  labour 
allotted  me  in  the  vineyard,  fervently  to  petition,  Lord,  give  me 
wisdom,  for  I  am  but  a  child.  He  who  allots  our  stations  in 
his  service,  points  them  also  out  to  his  servants  in  the  visible 
Church.  There  is  great  need  to  ask  counsel  of  our  Counsellor, 
in  the  various  events  attending  these  mortal  vessels,  and  especi- 
ally in  momentous  affairs,  where  much  of  the  well-being  of  life, 
and  that  in  the  highest  sense,  is  concerned.  There  never  was 
any  offer  made  to  thee  (at  least  that  I  heard  of),  which  carried  so 
much  probability  of  being  in  Divine  direction,  as  this  now  under 
thy  consideration  :  the  superiority  of  outward  enjoyments  which 
he  possesses,  preferably  to  the  other  offers,  by  no  means  decides 
with  me  :  I  believe  there  is  a  similarity  of  mind,  and  an  engage- 
ment, in  his  measure,  for  the  good  cause,  which  propose  an 
union  and  fellowship,  all  the  riches  of  the  world  can  never  pro- 
duce, but  have  often  tended  to  destroy.  As  a  member  of  this 
county,  I  regret  thy  removal  from  us  ;  as  a  member  of  the 
Church  militant,  I  approve  the  placing  a  candle  in  a  room  where 
it  seems  much  wanted  :  I  believe,  as  thou  waits  in  singleness  of 
heart  for  wisdom  and  counsel,  it  will  be  duly  administered. 

Farewell,  dear  friend  ;  let  us  be  mindful  of  our  father's  God  ; 
he  remains  to  be  ours ;  and  generation  tells  to  generation  his 
acts,  and  worships  his  everlasting  arm. 

I  am,  in  the  unmixed  fellowship  of  gospel  love,  thy  friend 
and  brother  in  Jesus, 

S.  F. 


iGTAT.  42.]  OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL.  343 


ANN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HER  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  3d  Mo.,  8lh,  1758. 
I  sate  down  to  write  to  thee  with  a  degree  of  ease 
and  serenity  which  promised  some  satisfaction ;  but  this  was 
soon  interrupted  by  a  dry  frame  of  mind,  that  has  indeed 
faded  and  dissipated  every  pleasing,  comfortable  sensation. 
 I  find  no  other  way  to  a  degree  of  stability  and  happi- 
ness, but  to  study  to  be  quiet,  and  mind  my  own  business  ;  this 
I  think  includes  acquiescence  and  resignation  to  every  allotted 
dispensation  ;  a  steady  adherence  to  this,  through  the  assistance 
of  Providence,  may  become  more  and  more  as  a  shelter  and 
place  of  defence,  against  the  violent  assaults  of  many  distress- 
ing and  distracting  cares  and  circumstances  that  daily  present 
to  busy  and  embondage  the  mind,  the  part  to  be  rendered 
happy  or  miserable,  and  we  apprized  of  it,  and  left  to  choose  ; 
and,  though  the  conflict  may  be  great,  a  promise  of  being  made 
overcomers,  if  we  faint  not — the  remembrance  of  which  some- 
times revives  with  a  little  hope  and  fresh  vigour,  when  we  are 
ready  to  sink. 

 Thy  remarks  on  worthy  Abraham  Farrington*  are 

affecting  and  just ;  but  to  reflect  on  the  brightness  of  the  setting 
sun,  spreads  over  the  mind,  on  his  account,  rather  a  pleasing 
sympathy  with  him  in  his  happy  change,  than  any  painful  regret, 
but  for  the  loss  we  have  sustained. 

A.  F. 

*  This  worthy  friend  had  finished  his  earthly  course,  a  short  time  before 
this  was  written,  at  the  house  of  Thonias  Jackson,  in  London,  who  thus 
writes  to  Samuel  Fothergill : — "  All  care,  both  by  advice  and  nursing,  was 

taken  of  our  dear  friend  Abraham  Farrington,  as  he  lived,  so  he 

died,  in  great  innocency  and  quietude,  and,  no  doubt,  is  gone  to  rest  with 
the  blessed."--T.  J. 


344 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  3d  Mc,  9th,  1758. 

Some  person  told  me,  before  I  left  your  country,  that 
I  should  love  your  Friends  better  when  I  got  home  than  I  did 
when  present  with  you  ;  and  I  have  found  more  in  the  remark 
than  1  at  that  time  attended  to.  My  spirit  often  has  fled,  on 
the  wings  of  love  and  sympathy,  to  a  region  where  it  hath 
heretofore  been  warmed  with  an  ardour  no  sublunary  enjoy- 
ment could  ever  inspire.  In  which  times  I  run  from  house  to 
house,  from  one  brother  and  sister  to  another  ;  as  usual,  I  seem 
to  enter  with  an  inquiry  (the  result  of  affection,  not  of  formal- 
ity) after  their  health,  and  depart  with  a  most  sincere  farewell. 
In  this  view  thou  art  familiar  with  me,  and  the  frequent  com- 
panion of  my  mind,  distinguished  from  most  in  your  land,  with 
solicitude  for  thy  health  and  establishment,  through  the  many 
inclement  seasons,  as  well  as  more  flattering  events,  which  in 
the  course  of  thy  pilgrimage  fall  to  thy  lot. 

He  in  whose  hands  the  winds  are  held,  both  the  southern 
gale  and  the  northern  blast,  hath  caused  the  former  to  blow 
upon  thee  in  the  sight  of  the  many  ;  and  the  northern  gale  of 
pinching  and  trial  hath  also  blown  upon  thee,  and  demanded 
the  sympathy  of  the  few,  who,  versed  in  the  alternate  revolu- 
tions of  the  Lord's  year,  praise  him  for  summer's  heat  and  win- 
ter's storms  ;  for  the  stormy  wind,  fulfilling  his  word,  was  called 
upon,  as  well  as  the  rolling  stars  of  light,  to  declare  his  praise. 

I  have  known  times  of  sitting  by  the  waters  of  Babylon, 
and  weeping  when  I  remembered  Zion ;  but  when  I  have 
looked  into  the  holy  sanctuary,  I  have  seen  afflictions  and 
sorrow  are  more  the  result  of  our  own  conduct  than  the 
Divine  intention.  If  we  fully  follow  him  in  all  his  leadings, 
the  Lord's  way  would,  to  many  of  us,  be  a  plainer  path 
than  we  find  it.  Great  is  ihe  advantage  of  faithful  obedi- 
ence ;  it  sweetens  every  cup,  and  speaks  peace  to  the  soul. 


iETAT.  42.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL, 


345 


Unmixed  sincerity  towards  God  is  an  excellent  sweetener  of  all 
the  cups  we  drink  of  from  the  fountain  of  Marah ;  but  where 
the  secret  consciousness  of  want  of  true  resignation  and  humble 
following  on  preys  upon  the  mind,  such  cannot  fly  with  bold- 
ness to  the  altars  of  God,  where  even  the  swallows  have  a  place 
allotted.  May  best  wisdom  and  fortitude  be  the  clothing  of  thy 
mind,  and  peace,  and  the  answer  of  "  Well  done,"  be  thy  por- 
tion for  ever. 

I  sat  down  to  tell  thee  that  I  remembered  thee  ;  my  pen  hath 
run  on  in  a  manner  I  did  not  expect,  perhaps,  in  an  improper 
one.  However,  this  I  know,  love,  stronger  than  death,  seasons 
my  spirit,  in  which  I  affectionately  salute  thee  aqd  all  thy  chil- 
dren ;  I  love  them  nearly,  and  the  Lord  loves  them,  and  would 
make  them  his  in  an  everlasting  covenant.  O,  that  their  hearts 
might  but  enough  prize  the  blessed  visitations  of  his  mercy, 
and  by  an  early  choice  of  the  paths  of  wisdom  and  truth,  fill  up 
their  duty  to  their  parents,  their  God,  and  his  people,  in  this  their 
day,  that  the  diadem  of  peace  might  be  with  them  for  ever. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  YARNALL. 

Warrington,  3d  Mo.,  9th,  1758. 
I  have  not  forgotten  the  relief  which  I  at  times  met  with 
when  in  your  country,  by  Friends  mitigating  the  inevitable  pain 
of  absence,  by  giving  my  wife  some  account  of  me,  when  I 
might  be  prevented  doing  it  by  such  engagements  as  neces- 
sarily attended  a  sincere  endeavour  to  discharge  my  duty  in 
the  service  of  our  ever  worthy  Lord  and  Master.  Experience 
hath  taught  me  sympathy,  and  the  very  sincere  regard  I  have 
for  thy  dear  husband,  thyself,  and  the  children,  demands  a  tes- 
timony of  it  on  the  present  occasion.  I  was,  by  a  slight  indis- 
position, prevented  accompanying  him  to  a  Quarterly  Meeting 
in  Cheshire,  to  which  he  set  out  this  morning,  accompanied  by 
45 


346 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


my  wife  and  Samuel  Emlen,  and  we  expect  him  here  again  in 
a  few  days. 

He  is  bravely  in  he;i]lh,  and  inwardly  and  outwardly  well' 
being  preserved  in  that  happy  stability  wliich  is  in  the  middle 
of  the  path  of  true  judgment.  His  service  is  truly  acceptable  to 
the  livings,  and,  by  the  haste  he  is  allowed  by  his  wise  and 
gracious  Master  to  make,  may  be  expected  to  be  clear  sooner 
than  many  others  that  have  come  here  from  your  land.  The 
lender  connexions  of  nature,  confirmed  by  the  yel  stronger 
cement  of  Divine  love,  which  establish  your  union,  will  doubt- 
less often  suggest  a  secret,  anxious  wish  for  his  return  to  his 
beloved  relatives  ;  but  whilst  natural  affection  prompts  to  wish 
his  return  home,  may  a  suitable  deference  ever  be  paid  to  that 
direction  which  is  wise,  and  in  whose  sacred  allotment  the 
joyous  events  of  human  life  are  sanctified,  and  the  adverse  ren- 
dered sweet.  I  early  felt  with  and  for  thee,  when  he  was  suf- 
fered to  fall  into  the  hands  of  unreasonable  men  ;*  but  He  whom 
thy  dear  husband  served  set  bounds  to  their  wrath,  and  vouch- 
safed a  speedy  deliverance.  And  why  may  we  not  suppose 
the  Lord  of  the  harvest  perfectly  wise,  in  now  and  then  lighting 
a  candle  in  those  lands  where  darkness  prevails  ?  It  is,  doubt- 
less, consistent  with  his  sovereignty  and  goodness,  who  would 
bless  the  utmost  borders  of  his  ample  empire,  and  make  the 
place  of  his  feet  glorious.  He  who  cares  for  the  sparrow,  and 
hath  numbered  the  hairs  of  our  heads,  mercifully  presides  among 
his  people,  divides  the  spoil  to  those  who,  in  his  strength,  go 
out  to  war,  and  allots  a  share  to  those  who  stay  at  home,  in 
their  duty  filling  up  their  places.  I  am  persuaded,  beyond  a 
doubt,  that  the  merciful  Father  cares  for  what  we  leave  behind 
us,  blesses  often  with  prosperity,  and  always  with  patience,  as 
we  look  towards  Him.  If  outward  affairs  are  not  beneath  his 
providential  notice,  how  much  more  those  to  whom  we  stand  in 
a  nearer  relation — those  pledges  of  mutual  love.  The  example 
of  tender  parents  may  be  in  measure  vacated,  yet  the  defi- 

*  Mordecai  Yarnall,  whilst  on  his  passage  from  America  to  Europe,  was 
captured  by  the  French,  but  was  soon  released. 


I 


^TAT.  42.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTIIKRGILL.  347 

ciency  is  made  up  by  the  interposition  of  the  ever-present  and 
all-sufficient  Father.     I  remember,  and   at  this  time  it  is 
fresh  with  me,  that  in  my  honorable  father's  absence  (he  being  j 
in  your  land,)  the  humbling,  converting  Hand  effectually  pre- 
vailed with  me,  to  embrace  the  day  of  his  visitation.     And  my 
heart  is  anxious  that  you,  the  beloved  offspring  of  the  Lord's 
servant,  may  be  enriched  with  the  same  blessing,  and  that  you 
may  give  up  your  names  to  be  inserted  in  the  roll  of  the  Lord's 
servants,  which  is  the  Lamb's  book  of  life.    For  this  his  prayers 
ascend,  who,  having  proved  the  service  of  the  Most  High,  has  i 
found  it  to  be  freedom  and  perfect  liberty-    May  a  holy  union 
of  spirit  unite  the  whole  together  that  you  may  availingly  follow  j 
after  those  things  which  make  for  your  peace ;  and  may  inno-  ^ 
cent  hands  be  put  up  to  the  Almighty,  for  a  beloved  father's  < 
return  to  you  in  safety,  and  with  sheaves  in  his  bosom.  ' 

With  a  heart  replenished  with  unfeigned  love,  I  salute  thee, 
dear  friend,  and  all  the  children  capable  of  receiving  it,  and  am  j 

thy  very  affectionate  friend,  * 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON.  j 
Warrington,  3d  Mo.,  1st,  1758. 

I  received  thy  acceptable  letter,  and  as  I  am  often 
anxiously  thoughtful  about  you,  and  solicitous  for  your  establish-  j 
ment  in  the  best  things,  the  account  thou  gave  me  (confirmed  by  i 
several  others)  of  the  gracious  continuance  of  best  help  towards  j 
you  in  the.  last  Yearly  Meeting  was  truly  acceptable.    May  the 
wisdom  which  is  from  above,  with  all  its  train  of  divine  compan-  | 
ions — faith,  meekness,  stability,  and  charity — be  more  the  cloth-  j 
ing  of  our  spirits  ;  and  then  shall  we  know  a  right  improve-  1 
ment  of  mercies  past,  and  a  meetness  for  those  yet  within  the  | 
veil.    And  when  I  consider  the  extent  of  unmerited  condescen-  ' 
sion  towards  our  Society  in  general,  and  to  many  particulars  in 
an  especial  manner,  for  their  own  help,  and  the  substantial  edifi- 


348 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758, 


cation  of  the  body,  my  heart  almost  dissolves  within  me,  and 
fervently  begs  protection  and  preservation  for  all  in  the  heavenly 
hierarchy,  that  they  may  bear,  without  a  mixture,  in  their  coun- 
tenances, the  resemblance  of  kings'  sons,  waiting  for  the  re- 
newed discovery  of  their  part  in  the  universal  tribute  of  obedi- 
ence and  praise,  and  strength  to  yield  it ;  that  nothing  may  ever 
prevail,  either  in  the  latent  source  of  our  conduct,  or  be  admit- 
ted at  all  to  tincture  it,  that  is  not  of  the  Lamb,  or  distort  our 
features  with  the  emotions  of  passions  repugnant  to  those  of  the 
heavenly  family.  I  know  we  have  great  need  often  to  have  re- 
course to  the  pool,  and  to  come  under  the  turning  of  that  hand 
that  hath  distinguished  us  from  many  of  our  btelhren.  Oh  let 
humility  be  our  dwelling-place,  and  the  uniform  rule  of  our 
conduct ;  so  shall  the  slippery  path  through  time  be  trod  with 
safety,  and  our  feet  at  last  stand  firmly  within  the  gates  of 
salvation. 

I  have  spent  some  time  agreeably  with  worthy  Thomas 
Gawthorp  since  his  return  home,  having  paid  him  a  visit  at  his 
own  house.  He  hath  not  lost  ground  by  his  journey  amongst 
you,  though  his  lot  hath  been  in  suffering  since  his  return,  yet 
the  answer  of  "  Well  done,"  seems  as  a  pearl  in  his  field,  most 
surely  there,  though  often  concealed  from  view. 

In  all  cases  where  contrary  sentiments  occur,  and  where  we 
are  required  earnestly  to  contend  for  the  faith,  the  more  the 
meekness  of  the  Lamb  is  adopted  and  abode  in,  the  more  indis- 
putably He  is  known  to  be  the  Lion  of  Judah's  tribe,  going 
forth  conquering  and  to  conquer.  I  sympathise  nearly  with 
such  amongst  you  who  dare  not  turn  aside  from  the  directions 
of  Heaven,  but  follow  the  ark  into  Jordan.  May  the  holy  cov- 
ering of  peace  and  meekness  be  upon  them,  ahd  it  will  be  in  the 
end  a  garment  of  praise. 

I  have  never  yet  seen  cause  to  recede  from  the  judgment  of 
Friends  who  signed  the  Epistle  of  Love  and  Caution,  and  I  be- 
lieve our  Yearly  Meeting  will  scarcely  decide  the  point  or  med- 
dle with  it,  S.  F. 


JEtkT.  42.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHEROILL. 


349 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  3d  Mo.,  lOlh,  1758. 
That  affectionate  regard  that  Uved  with  me  towards 
thee  from  our  very  first  acquaintance,  is  by  no  means  impaired 
by  absence,  for  it  is  derived  from  that  which  doth  riot  change  ; 
in  which  I  affectionately  salute  thee,  earnestly  desiring  thy 
perseverance  and  growth  into  a  measure  of  the  stature  of  the 
fulness  of  Christ ;  being  sensible  that  He  who  hath  called  thee 
by  his  grace,  and  whose  gifts  and  calling  are  without  repentance, 
would  lead  on  towards  perfection  his  children,  whom  he  hath 
begot  by  his  own  power;  and  although  their  path  may  be  through 
the  region  of  the  shadow  of  death,  he  is  able  to  keep  unto  sal- 
vation. 

Many,  very  many,  are  the  obstructions  in  our  way  to  the 
kingdom,  but  our  greatest  enemies  are  those  of  our  own  heart ; 
the  corrupt,  selfish  will,  that  wills  hot  the  things  of  God,  is  apt 
to  get  up,  and  wants  not  its  disguises  to  deceive  and  multiply 
sorrow.  It  would  choose  and  refuse,  according  to  its  own  con- 
ception ;  and  as  it  is  not  subject  to  the  Divine  law,  it  cannot 
enjoy  a  place  in  the  holy  family,  who  with  one  accord  say,  "Thy 
will  be  done  in  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven."  Dear  John,  how  many 
sorrowful  hours  hath  this  revolting  heart  cost  some  of  us,  in  our 
wearisome  pilgrimage,  let  experience  testify.  On  the  contrary, 
when  we  seek  singly  the  accomplishment  of  the  Divine  will,  in 
and  by  us,  peace  springs  and  flows  like  a  river  ;  our  strength 
is  renewed,  and  our  youth,  like  the  eagle's.  An  increase  in 
heavenly  knowledge,  from  the  Alpha  throughout  the  Divine 
progressive  alphabet,  from  one  letter  to  another,  even  from  the 
first  to  the  last,  is  vouchsafed,  and  the  glory  redounds  to  the 
ever  worthy  name.  In  humbling,  stripping  times,  we  can  kiss 
the  rod,  and  be  instructed  in  patience  and  faith,  in  vigilance 
and  holy  fear.  Being  well  content  with  our  allotment,  if  we 
have  a  place  in  His  house,  it  is  enough,  however  low  the 
station.     Permit  me  tenderly  to  suggest  the  query,  whether 


350 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


thou  hast  not  covered  thy  face  with  ashes  in  mourning,  at  times, 
through  a  disposition  to  choose  thy  service,  and  to  refuse  it  when 
prompt  obedience  was  thine  incumbent  duty  1  Yet  the  Lord  of 
living  mercy  is  mindful  of  thee  for  good  ;  his  hand  is  underneath, 
though  at  times  invisibly,  in  order  to  establish  in  peace  and 
holy  tranquillity.  But  peace  is  sown  for  the  truly  obedient,  and 
will,  after  the  revolutions  of  the  appointed  seasons,  produce  the 
desired  fruit. 

I  nearly  sympathise  with  the  living  amongst  you,  in  this  dark 
and  gloomy  day  that  hath  come  upon  your  land ;  and  oh,  saith 
my  soul,  that  you  may  all  stand,  with  your  loins  girt  about, 
having  on  the  complete  armour  of  light.  Thus  innocence  and 
fortitude  will  render  these  finally  victorious,  and  whatever  may 
attend,  your  reward  will  be  sure. 

I  am,  through  mercy,  pretty  well  in  health,  and  not  idle,  find- 
ing work  in  my  own  vineyard,  and,  according  to  my  measure, 
in  the  Church  of  Christ.  My  wife  is  as  well  as  for  several 
years,  and  joins  me  in  the  tenders  of  dear  love  to  thy  worthy, 
honourable  mother  and  thyself. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JAMES  PEMBERTON". 

Warrington,  8d  Mo.,  10th,  1758. 
I  was  well  pleased  with  the  receipt  of  thine,  containing 
a  circumstantial  account  of  affairs  amongst  you,  together  with 
some  reflections  upon  several  things  which  were  just  and  proper. 
These  testimonies  of  regard  and  affection  are  allowably  pleasing 
to  me,  who  often  am  present  in  spirit  with  many  of  you,  and 
rejoice  in  every  event  which  promotes  the  real  prosperity  of  that 
once  happy  land,  and  am  as  sensibly  pained  with  those  occur- 
rences which  tend  to  its  hurt.  Though,  indeed,  we  are  short- 
sighted creatures ;  we  see  not  the  wheel  within  the  wheel,  and 
often  form  a  hasty  judgment  of  those  things  we  do  see  and  feel. 
Thus  present  afflictions  are  accounted  evils,  and  the  shaking  of  the 


JETAT.  42.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


351 


rod  of  the  Highest  over  a  forgetful  people  is  more  attended  to, 
and  greater  endeavours  used  to  obviate  it,  than  to  search  out  the 
cause,  even  the  backsliding  of  the  people,  the  constant  spring  of 
distress  ;  and  no  power  can  separate  this  effect  from  its  origi- 
nal cause.  I  trust  many  look  into  that  which  is  within  the  veil, 
and  properly  improve  the  present  dispensation,  that  they  may 
be  prepared  to  bear  with  benefit  a  relaxation  of  present  sorrow, 
or,  what  perhaps  is  nearer,  the  letting  loose  of  the  Lord's  hand 
in  terrible  judgment.  I  remark  with  joy  the  continuance  of  Di- 
vine favour  towards  you,  in  repeated  offers  of  his  love  by  his 
servants.  Oh  that  each  soul,  sensible  of  these  favours,  may  im- 
prove them  to  profit ;  for  to  many,  the  dew  of  heaven  is  as  wa- 
ter spilt  upon  a  stone,  from  not  considering  that  they  are  mer- 
cies to  be  accounted  for  in  the  day  of  recompense. 

The  weakness,  wickedness,  and  insincerity  of  your  principal 
people  in  power,  are  subjects  of  sorrowful  consideration,  and 
seem  to  me  to  threaten  desolation,  instead  of  protection  and  help. 
For  when  government,  instituted  for  salutary  purposes,  becomes 
either  lax  or  perverted  to  repugnant  purposes,  it  is  a  presage  of 
calamity,  and  made  an  engine  of  oppression.  But  in  the  cloud 
is  the  way  of  the  Sovereign  of  the  world,  as  surely  as  in 
the  paths  of  light.  I  meddle  little  with  the  public  transac- 
tions of  Europe,  but  think  the  nations  are  as  a  boiling  pot. 
Wars,  commotions,  and  bloodshed  fill  the  awful  scene,  and  a 

spirit  is  let  loose  which  breathes  destruction   I  am  sorry 

to  hear  of  the  defection  and  cowardice  of  some  in  the  Jerseys, 
in  flinching  from  their  testimony.  Alas  !  what  have  we  that  we 
have  not  received  ?  and  can  we  ever  part  with  any  portion  of 
it  for  a  better  use,  than  for  His  sake  who  giveth  us  all  things 
richly  to  enjoy  ?  I  sincerely  wish  all  Friends  may  abide  in 
the  innocent  quiet,  where  counsel  springs  up  in  the  needful 
hour,  as  it  is  sought  in  singleness  of  heart.  I  find  an  in- 
creasing reluctancy  in  several  minds  against  the  payment  of 
the  land-tax  here.  Peradventure  the  time  may  approach, 
in  which  the  command  may  run  thus, — Speak  to  my  people 


352 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


that  they  go  forward.  And  perhaps  the  faithful  amongst  you 
may  form  the  van. 

Of  worthy  A.  Farrington's  departure,  thou  has  doubtless 
heard.  He  finished  his  course  well  and  bright  ;  and  that  is 
enough,  whenever  the  appointed  hour  comes. 

Thy  sister  Sarah  Lloyd  is  the  frequent  companion  of  my  very 
affectionate  remembrance.  Her  portion  is  afflicting  ;  to  be  cut  off 
from  the  satisfactions  of  life,  innocent  in  their  nature,  and  even 
laudable  when  rightly  enjoyed,  and  to  remain  in  a  constant 
state  of  indisposition,  makes  nature  shudder.  But  if  the  satis- 
factions, merely  human,  are  much  gone,  its  temptations  are  also 
weakened  ;  and  no  confinement  so  close,  but  he  who  entered, 
"  the  doors  being  shut,"  can  find  admission  there.  The  salu- 
tation of  kind  and  tender  love  reaches  to  her,  and  may  the 
Holy  One  speak  comfortably  to  her. 

Thy  assured,  affectionate  friend, 

S.  F. 

BAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HANNAH  LOGAN.» 

Warrington,  1758. 

Neither  time  nor  distance  hath  effaced  thee  out  of 
my  remembrance  and  near  regard,  though,  perhaps,  thou 
may  almost  have  thought  so.  Thou  hast  been  the  frequent 
companion  of  my  mind,  with  desires  for  thy  growth  and  sta- 
bihty  in  those  things  which  are  most  excellent  ;  and  well 
assured  I  am,  thy  morning  light  would  be  beautified  with 
additional  degrees  of  splendour,  if  no  unfaithfulness  or  want 
of  right  care  on  thy  part  defeat  the  sacred  design  of  that  mer- 
ciful one,  who  is  the  Lord  of  perfection,  and  would  have  his 
sons  and  daughters  like  himself,  according  to  their  age  and 
growth.  That  this  blessed  resemblance  may  be  impressed 
upon  thee,  is  my  earnest  prayer ;  and,  in  order  thereto,  permit 

*  Wife  of  William  Logan,  and  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Emlen. 


iETAT.  42.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


353 


me  to  suggest  a  few  such  hints  and  cautions  as  may  arise  in  a 
mind  anxious  for  thy  good,  and  warmed  with  the  best  love. 

Study  to  be  quiet,  and  mind  thine  own  business,  is  one  use- 
ful, necessary  direction  to  all  who  would  thrive  at  home  :  there 
is  an  active  enemy,  who  seeks  to  draw  out  the  mind  after  other 
people's  business,  to  the  neglect  of  our  own  ;  whereby  hurt  and 
loss  attend,  and  the  feet  of  the  mind  are  gadding  from  house  to 
house,  and  abide  not  within  our  own  doors  ;  the  domestic  affairs 
of  the  soul  are  neglected,  the  house  gets  unclean  and  confused  ; 
and  when  the  holy  Head  of  the  family  and  Husband  of  the  soul, 
comes,  he  finds  things  unmeet  for  his  reception,  and  refuses  to 
lake  up  his  residence.  Here  some  bemoan  his  absence,  which 
is  chiefly  or  wholly  owing  to  their  want  of  care  in  having  all 
things  clean  and  in  order,  and  being  at  home  to  receive  him 
when  he  comes. 

It  is  a  common  consequence  of  wandering  much  from  home, 
to  hear  many  reports,  whereby  the  mind  feeds  on  wind  ;  this  is 
also  ruinous  and  destructive.  It  was  not  upon  the  mountains, 
or  far  off,  that  manna  descended  for  Israel,  but  even  about  their 
tents  ;  and  the  celestial  bread,  which  hath  been  the  staff  of  life 
to  the  living  of  all  generations,  is  in  our  own  houses  ;  the  vein 
of  fine  gold  runs  in  our  hearts,  there  let  us  dig,  and  patiently 
bear  the  refiner's  hand.  Blessed  is  that  servant  who  is  found 
thus  abiding  and  waiting  at  home  ;  when  his  Master  comes,  he 
will  accept  him,  and  make  him  ruler  in  his  stead.  Here  stands 
the  power  and  ability  of  being  rightly  useful  in  the  cause  of 
truth,  whether  in  the  church,  or  in  our  own  families.  In  this 
authority,  the  tender  connexions  of  nature,  improved  by  grace 
and  confirmed  by  prudence,  become  a  threefold  cord,  that  cannot 
easily  be  broken  ;  and  if  we  instantly  see  not  the  desire  of  our 
souls,  we  shall  not  assume  the  Divine  prerogative  in  fixing  judg- 
ment, or  decline  our  patient  waiting  until  our  Lord  comes,  who 
can  do  all  for  us,  yea  more  abundantly  than  we  dare  expect  or 
ask.  S.  F. 

46 


354 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  3d  Mo.,  30lh,  1758. 

I  now  write  that  I  may  not  seem  to  forget  thee  long 
together  ;  forget  thee,  I  cannot.  I  have  passed  a  laborious  win- 
ter, unpleasant  to  myself  in  some  respects,  but  I  hope  not  alto- 
gether unprofitable  ;  I  mean  not  only  with  respect  to  temporal 
advantage — of  this  I  might  have  as  much  as  one  in  a  private 
station  ought  to  look  for— but  I  gladly  encourage  the  rising  ques- 
tion, To  u'hat  end  ?  and  I  hope,  in  one  respect  or  another,  I 
am  kept  daily  mindful,  in  degree,  of  the  winding  up  of  all  things. 
Could  I,  by  unwearied  application,  get  myself  more  at  liberty 
a  few  weeks  hence  to  sit  down  wilh  my  friends  at  our  ensuing 
solemnity  here,  I  should  be  glad  ;  but  of  this  I  have  not  so 
much  as  the  faintest  hope.  I  shall  see  you  now  and  then  as  a 
traveller,  but  if  I  can  be  kept  so  far  alive  as  to  rejoice  when  the 
will  of  heaven  is  done,  I  shall  be  satisfied,  if  nothing  more  is 
permitted  to  be  my  poition.    I  am,  as  much  as  ever,  thy 

John  Fothergill. 

SAMUEL  EMLEN  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Bristol,  4th  Mo.,  18lh,  1758. 

Our  valuable  friend  Mordecai  Yarnall  and  myself  are 
both  here,  and  through  mercy,  pretty  well  in  health,  and  not  in- 
sensible of  the  Divine  vouchsafements  of  that  help  unto  him, 
which  ever  attends  the  willing  in  Israel,  though  sometimes  in 
seeming  less  proportions  than  the  creature  may  possibly  desire, 
or.  according  to  our  present  senses,  may  believe  necessary  for 
the  advancement  of  that  lovely  cause  in  which  we  may,  by  be- 
coming sufficiently  passive,  be  made  instrumental. 

I  fear  sometimes,  greatly,  lest  my  failure  to  fill  up  properly 
the  station  unerring  wisdom  designs  for  my  standing  in, 


( 


uETAT.   42.]  OF   SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


355 


may  yet  prove  not  only  ruinous  to  myself,  but  injurious  to 
others,  whom  in  unmerited  mercy  he  has  reached  unto,  and 
would  bring  forward  towards  a  glorious  rest,  if  the  ascending 
path  thitherward,  from  an  unwise  imagination  of  its  insurmount- 
able difficulties,  be  not  declined.  My  footsteps  are,  I  believe, 
marked  oftener  than  I  sometimes  consider.  O  may  they  leave 
the  beauteous  print  of  those  shoes  with  which  our  Heavenly 
Father  guards  the  feet  of  his  beloved  children,  and  with  inviting 
language  persuade  others  of  the  mercifully  visited  yet  to  step 
forward. 

On  the  1  Ithwe  came  to  Chtpstow,  where  a  meeting  was  held 
in  the  afternoon  with  the  members  of  our  society.  It  was  a 
season  of  favour  to  us.  After  this,  some  expected  a  select  Meet- 
ing of  Ministers  and  Elders,  but  I  find  they  have  not  yet  estab- 
lished such  meetings  in  that  principality ;  the  other  Meetings  for 
Discipline  evince  that  things  relative  thereto  are  very  low.  The 
three  succeeding  Meetings  for  worship  were  very  large. 

I  believe  I  am  not  alone  in  being  pleased  that  the  best  quali- 
fied instruments  at  these  meetings  were  so  very  little  interrupt- 
ed, or  their  intended  service  prevented,  by  the  time  being  taken 
up  by  others.  I  do  not  remember  any  Yearly  Meeting  in  which 
the  minds  of  sensible  Friends  were  less  pained  on  this  account ; 
I  believe  it  exceeded  that  at  Milverton  in  this  respect ;  but  the 
minds  of  those  ministered  unto  seemed  less  susceptible  of  pro- 
fitable impressions  than  those  who  have  attended  the  Welsh 
Yearly  Meetings  allow  to  have  been  the  case  formerly ;  too 
many  there  appearing  invariably  fixed  in  their  own  opinions. 

Saml.  Neale  and  C.  Pay  ton  had  an  opportunity  at  a  crowded 
meeting  here  in  the  morning,  both  I  hope  well.  She  was  really 
clothed  with  the  best  coat  of  mail,  and  furnished  with  the  wea- 
pons necessary  among  such  spirits  ;  1  hope  to  her  own  great 
humbling,  as  well  as  encouraging  gladness,  in  being  so  digni- 
fied by  the  great  Master,  some  of  whose  servants  think  it  was 
a  day  of  memorable  distinction.  I  think  she  is  made  more  and 
more  honourable.    0,  may  an  increase  of  humihty  be  her 


356 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


happy  portion  ;  then  will  an  advancement  in  Divine  favour  be 
yet  administered,  notwithstanding  the  gradations  she  is  already 
favoured  with  are  indisputably  great. 

I  wish,  at  the  ensuing  Yearly  Meeting  in  London,  to  con- 
clude as  to  my  return  home,  so  as  to  be  quite  easy  in  myself, 
and  give  no  cause  of  pain  to  the  minds  of  any  of  my  true  well- 
wishers,  amongst  whom  I  have  abundant  cause  to  rank  thee  ; 
and,  therefore,  hope  thou  wilt  look  at  this  matter  in  thy  own 
mind,  when  aiiy  interval  of  leisure  for  it  presents  to  thee  ;  and 
that,  with  a  father's  freedom,  thy  counsel  may  be  made  known 
before  we  meet  each  other.  I  desire  honestly  to  attend  to  the 
dictates  of  best  wisdom,  if  vouchsafed. 

Samuel  Emlen,  Jun. 

samuel  emlen  to  susanna  fothergill. 

Bristol,  7th  Mo.,  ISlh,  1758. 

I  have  seldom  heard  children  blamed  for  telling  their 
parents,  guardians,  or  friends  where  and  how  they  are,  and 
should,  therefore,  have  been  apt  to  send  thee  a  line  for  this 
purpose  before  now,  if  my  arrival  at  this  place  had  been  so  early 
as  I  expected  at  the  time  of  our  parting  at  Warrington.  As  we 
purposed  getting  to  Dudley  Meeting  the  next  morning  after 
leaving  your  town,  and  the  ride  being  pretty  long,  thou  would, 
probably,  think  it  full  as  much  as  my  little  body  was  able  for  ; 
but  to  make  this  matter  more  easy,  we  took  a  post-chaise  about 
sixteen  miles  of  the  very  rough  road,  and,  thereby  easing  our- 
selves and  our  horses,  we  were  favoured  to  get  near  sixty  miles 
the  first  day,  and  the  next  morning  to  Dudley  Meeting.  We 
found  our  friends  there  bravely  in  health. 

I  was  much  pleased,  and  hope  to  be  profited,  with  my 
late  visit  to  that  family  (C.  Payton's.)  As  it  is  now  unlikely 
I  should  ever  see  them  more,  it  is,  indeed,  joyous  to  believe 
that  the  Hand  which  has  ever  guarded  and  supported  all 


^TAT.  42.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


357 


that  have  been  steadfast  to  the  end,  is  yet  evidently  near  for  the 
continuance  of  their  safety.  May  the  stay  of  thy  young  years 
be  dihgently  looked  unlo  ;  and  I  then  trust,  notwithstanding 
fully  as  deep  draughts  of  the  bitter  cup  as  nature  is  glad  of 
may  be  sometimes  handed,  they  will  not  tend  to  weaken  in  best 
things,  but  thou  wilt  rather  experience  a  happy  increase  in  that 
Divine  strength  which  formerly  was  desirable  more  than  tem- 
porary ease  and  pleasure,  which  might,  perhaps,  be  greater  if 
thy  dear  spouse's  frequency  from  home  did  not  interrupt-  But 
tliou  art  by  no  means  so  covetous  of  his  company  as  to  prefer 
thy  own  pleasure  to  public  advantage,  wherein  his  master  evi- 
dently helps  him  to  be  useful ;  and  I  thmk  thee  not  ignorant 
that  those  that  abide  at  home  to  give  necessary  attention  to  the 
stuff  are  not  forgotten,  but  at  limes  thou  art  plenteously  re- 
warded by  the  holy  replenishes,  to  thy  comfort  and  cause  of 
thankfulness. 

JohnStoreris  undetermined  about  the  place  of  his  embarking 
for  America ;  here  are  vessels  to  sail  for  Philadelphia,  New 
York,  and  Carolina,  that  he  may  have  his  choice.  I  want  him 
to  feel  his  own  persuasion  of  mind  in  the  matter  ;  it  is  not  my 
place  to  say  much  in  so  important  a  concern  ;  he  is  not  an  en- 
tire stranger  to  that  wisdom  which  is  profitable  to  direct  and 
mighty  to  save.  May  a  diligent,  honest  attention  to  its  direc- 
tion be  with  him ;  then  I  think  he  will  yet  witness  preserva- 
tion, though  his  present  state  of  mind  seems  not  to  be  exaltation. 

Samuel  Emlen,  Jun. 

In  the  sixth  month  of  this  year,  Samuel  Fothergill  had  a 
certificate  from  the  Monthly  Meeting  to  pay  a  religious  visit  to 
Friends  in  the  North  of  Yorkshire,  Durham,  Cumberland,  and 
Westmoreland  ;  and  he  soon  afterwards  proceeded  upon  the 
service. 


358 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER, 

Newcaslle-upon-Tyne,  8lh  Mo.,  7lh,  1758. 

Thy  very  acceptable  lines  to  Scarborough  came  in  | 
course  ;  the  sympathy  and  instruction  they  express  very  strongly  1 
affected  my  mind,  then  deeply  humbled  under  a  sense  of  weak-  j 
ness  and  want,  as  a  baptism  preparative  to  the  labour  which  • 
opened  before  me,  in  which  I  find  more  and  more  the  absolute 
necessity  of  resignation  to  His  wise  disposal  who  fills  and  emp-  | 
lies,  abases  and  favours,  in  the  proportions  of  His  most  perfect  | 
wisdom.    I  have  had  additional  proofs  that  all  true  sufficiency  j 
is  in  and  of  him,  and  that  for  every  difficulty  ;  either  in  the  i 
heights  or  depths,  it  is  indeed  a  glorious  sufficiency  ;  may  we  ] 
lean  upon  it  in  every  part  of  our  race,  and  it  will  safely  sustain  ' 
to  the  end  of  all  our  variously  dispensed  allotments.    I  have 
been  enabled  with  a  good  degree  of  inward  and  outward 
strength. 

The  meetings,  as  I  have  come  along,  have  been  generally  , 
very  large,  and  often  favoured  eminently  with  good,  so  that  I  i 
have  reason  to  believe  my  coming  was  at  the  right  time.    I  ' 
came  from  our  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Lancaster,  through  Wens-  j 
leydale  :  I  had  meetings  at  Hawes,  Counterside,  Bainbridge,  | 
Aysgarth,  Masham,  Thirsk,  Kirby-moorside,  and  Pickering, 
and  to  Scarborough,  where  I  remained  nine  days,  only  made 
an  excursion  along  with  M.  Yarnal  to  Burlington  ;  from  Scar- 
borough I  came  by  Stentondale,  Whitby,  Stockton,  Durham, 
Sunderland,  to  this  town,  where  were  two  very  large  and  truly  \ 
comfortable  meetings,  but  as  they  were  much  composed  of  ' 
other  people,  I  have  proposed  a  more  select  one  of  the  mem-  | 
bers  of  the  Society  this  afternoon,  and  propose  to  set  out  to-  | 
morrow  morning  direct  for  Cumberland,  in  which  county  I  < 
expect  to  stay  some  time.    Thus,  dear  sister,  is  my  lot  cast  in  | 
close  and  hard  labour,  both  of  body  and  mind,  but  every  repin-  | 
ing  thought  vanishes,  when  I  consider  it  is  a  stewardship  in  that  | 
house  in  which  I  have  been  absolutely  unworthy  of  the  very  i 
lowest  place.  ; 

S.  F.  ; 


1 


^TAT.  42.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


359 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  9th  Mo.,  7th,  1758. 

If  our  Lord  and  Master  vary  the  dispensations  of  his 
providence,  it  is  for  some  good  end  ;  His  plan,  hke  his  wisdom, 
is  much  more  extensive  than  ours,  and  if  the  confusions  and 
corruscalions  in  our  allotment  be  harbingers  of  some  approach- 
ing manifestations  of  bis  own  day,  to  a  greater  degree  of  lustre, 
let  us  be  content  with  our  lot,  endeavouring  after  stability  and 
dependence,  that  the  Lord  of  the  day  may  preside,  and  direct 
the  work  of  it. 

Our  Yearly  Meeting  at  London  was  large  and  satisfactory  ; 
the  agreeable  appearance  of  many  youth  comforted  the  souls  of 
many  who  love  Zion.  I  think  I  have  known  the  stream  of  the 
ministry  rise  higher,  but  the  Meetings  for  Discipline  were  emi- 
nently favoured.  There  were  several  subjects  considered  and 
discussed,  in  all  which  Truth  prevailed  against  those  who 
wanted  to  intruduce  greater  liberties. 

Soon  after  my  return  from  London,  I  set  out  on  a  visit  to 
some  parts  of  Yorkshire,  Durham,  Cumberland,  and  Westmore- 
land, from  which  laborious  service  I  returned  two  days  ago,  and 
propose  to  set  out  early  to-morrow  morning  for  Kidderminster, 
where  the  Circular  Yearly  Meeting  for  the  seven  western  coun- 
ties begins  on  first  day  next.  My  journey  was  very  laborious 
to  body  and  mind  ;  many  painful  things  are  to  be  met  witli  in 
such  a  journey,  especially  where  ministers  are  led  into  the  slate 
of  the  church  to  whom  they  minister.  Some  secret  causes  of 
pain,  and  too  many  obvious  ones,  render  it  distressing  to  trace 
the  state  of  that  vineyard  which  the  Almighty  once  planted  in  a 
fruitful  hill. 

Accept,  my  dear  friend,  to  thyself  and  family,  the  salutes  of 
that  affection  that  remains,  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  my 
life,  in  the  breast  of  thy  affectionate,  cordial  friend, 

S.  F. 

From  the  visit  to  the  North  of  England,  he  returned  with  im- 


360 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


paired  liealih,  and  his  journey  to  attend  the  Circular  Yearly- 
Meeting  increased  his  indisposition.  Total  loss  of  appetite, 
want  of  rest,  extensive  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  an  incessant 
cough,  and  other  symptoms  of  consumption,  caused  serious  ap- 
prehensions on  his  account,  and  it  was  feared  that  his  continuance 
in  this  life  would  be  of  brief  duration.  His  illness  continued 
long,  but  it  pleased  his  good  and  gracious  Master  to  raise  him 
lip  again,  for  further  labour  in  his  service.  Being  thus  rendered 
unable  to  attend  the  Monthly  Meeting,  he  returned  his  certificate 
with  the  following  letter. 

TO  HARDSHAW  MONTHLY  MEETING. 

Warrington,  11th  Mo.,  21st,  1758. 

Dear  Friends, 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  personally  delivered  to 
you  the  certificate  you  were  pleased  to  grant  me  in  the  sixth 
month  last ;  but  having  been  visited  with  a  dangerous  indisposi- 
tion, from  which  1  am  not  wholly  recovered,  I  am  obliged  to 
send  it  in  this  manner. 

Agreeable  to  the  prospect  of  duty  I  had  when  I  requested 
your  certificate,  I  was  enabled  to  perform  a  visit  to  the  meet- 
ings of  Friends  in  some  parts  of  the  North  of  Yorkshire,  the 
counties  of  Durham,  Cumberland,  and  Westmoreland.  In  the 
course  of  this  visit  I  was  often  deeply  affected  with  sorrow,  on 
account  of  the  declension  of  many  from  the  life  and  power  of 
Truth,  who  yet  value  themselves  upon  a  name  ;  but  the  heavenly 
salt  being  lost,  they  are  unsavoury,  and  have  brought  dishonour 
upon  the  principle  of  Truth  and  its  professors.  Yet  often  living 
encouragement  to  hope  in  ancient  Help  was  administered,  and 
the  powerful,  blessed  effects  of  it  made  manifest  in  awakening 
a  remnant  throughout  the  churches  to  prefer  Zion  to  every  other 
joy,  and  to  labour  to  build  the  Lord's  house  more  than  their  own. 
I  know  not  what  I  can  profitably  add  but  this  humble  acknow- 
ledgment, The  Lord  was  with  me,  and  overshadowed  me  often 
with  the  wing  of  his  salvation. 

I  recommend  you,  dear  Friends,  to  a  steadfast  adherence 


I 


2ETAT.  43.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  361 

to  the  Word  of  Wisdom  and  true  judgment ;  these  times  re- 
quire it,  for  they  are  gloomy,  and  the  mouths  of  multitudes  are 
opened,  and  further  opening,  against  us  ;  and  alas  for  the  occa- 
sion administered,  and  the  things  found  against  too  many  of  our 
members,  and  not  concerning  the  law  of  our  God  ! 

I  remain  your  friend  and  brother  in  that  which  remains  for 
ever,  Samuel  Fothergill. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  AND  SISTER. 

Warrington,  11th  Mo.,  26th,  1758. 

This  morning,  about  the  fourth  hour,  dear  sister 
Hannah*  finished  her  course,  which,  in  its  conclusion,  hath  been 
uniform  with  her  life,  even,  peaceful,  and  quiet :  she  may  be  truly 
said  to  have  fallen  asleep,  after  having  in  a  happy  degree  served 
God  in  her  generation.  The  interment  is  to  be  on  third  day  next. 
Your  affection  will  lead  you  to  sympathize  with  the  afflicted 
family  on  the  solemn  occasion  of  the  removal  of  a  head  from 
eight  children,  and  a  true  helpmeet  from  a  person  enfeebled 
every  way  by  indisposition,  though  I  hope  he  is  better  than  some 
time  ago,  and  bears  the  stroke  with  a  proper  equanimity. 

I  continue  better  than  I  could  expect  :  I  can  scarcely  moder- 
ate my  feelings  for  those  who  are  left,  and  the  gap  that  is  made. 
I  know  it  is  best  to  be  quiet,  but  my  spirits  are  depressed  by  in- 
disposition, and  I  cannot  command  them.  The  solemn  peace 
and  divine  sweetness  which  evidently  attended  our  sister,  are 
abundant  proofs  to  me  that  she  has  entered  into  that  society 
whose  rest  is  sure. 

I  am,  dear  brother  and  sister,  with  the  strongest  wishes  for 
our  preservation  to  that  holy  inheritance, 

Your  affectionate  Brother, 

S.  F. 

•  The  wife  of  his  brother  Joseph  Fothergill, 
47 


I 


362 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTEES 


[1758. 


ANTHONY  BENEZET  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  11th  Mo.,  27th,  1758. 

I  have  now  for  a  long  time  been  much  closed  up  from 
writing,  except  where  an  appprehension  of  duty  has  made  it  ne- 
cessary ;  and,  indeed,  my  mind  remains  still  much  the  same  in 
that  respect ;  yet  1  think  it  by  no  means  to  proceed  from  want 
of  real  regard  and  love  to  my  friends,  for  it  is  my  chief  consola- 
tion, that  sincere  love  and  affectionate  fellowship  seem  to  flow 
more  than  ever  towards  those  who,  in  degree,  bear  the  image, 
and  abound  in  the  love  of  our  blessed  Saviour.  Yet  now  I  find 
some  freedom,  and  I  apprehend  somewhat  of  a  necessity  to  lay 
my  thoughts  a  little  open  to  thee  with  respect  to  our  youth,  or  I 
might  rather  say,  the  youth  everywhere  ;  it  is  amongst  these 
that  the  seed  of  corruption  first  subtilely  insinuates  itself  most 
strongly  ;  and,  notwithstanding  exceptions  to  the  contrary,  yet 
Solomon's  words  will  generally  prove  true.  That  the  child  train- 
ed up  in  the  way  that  he  should  go,  will  not  depart  from  it 
when  old.  We  are  apt  to  doubt  of  the  general  truth  of  this 
saying,  because  experience  shows  us  that  the  children  of  many 
good  parents,  who  have  been  concerned  for  the  welfare  of  their 
offspring,  go  much  out  of  the  way,  and  yet,  if  we  consider  what 
little  eff"ectual  care  is  taken  of  the  youth,  even  amongst  too 
many  of  the  best  amongst  us,  we  shall  not  wonder  at  our  ill  suc- 
cess ;  some,  doubtless,  are  really  and  vitally  careful,  but  it  is 
generally  but  an  indulgent  and  partial  care  ;  was  it  but  such  a 
watchful  care  as  the  miser  has  to  preserve  and  increase  his 
wealth)  or  the  ambitious  to  gain  honours,  with  a  fervent  appli- 
cation to  God  for  help,  I  doubt  not  but  the  effects  would  appear. 
Ought  not  the  educating  and  training  up  of  the  youth,  both  with 
relation  to  time  and  eternity,  next  to  our  more  immediate  duty  to 
God,  be  the  chief  concern  of  every  one  that  really  desires  the 
welfare  and  enlargement  of  the  borders  of  Zion.  I  have  often 
thought  that,  next  to  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  the  labour  that  is 


^TAT.  43.]  OF  SAMUEL  F0THER6ILL. 


363 


bestowed  in  preventing  the  influx  of  evil,  and  the  watching  over 
every  opportunity  of  instilling  noble  and  Christian  principles  in 
the  tender  minds  of  the  youth,  is  the  greatest  and  most  accept- 
able sacrifice  and  service  we  can  offer  to  the  great  Father  and 
Head  of  the  family  of  the  whole  earth,  and  the  most  exalted  du- 
ty a  Christian  mind  can  be  engaged  in  ;  and  it  is,  I  think,  ob- 
servable, that  even  those  children  who,  notwithstanding  great 
care  has  been  taken  in  their  education,  have  suffered  sin  to  pre- 
vail, so  as  to  rush  violently  into  evil,  yet  even  in  these,  the 
Christian  labour  which  was  bestowed  on  them  when  young,  has 
been  as  bread  cast  upon  the  waters,  and  found  again  after  many 
days  of  vanity  and  sin.  How  many  are  there  in  the  Society,  of 
sufficient  talents  for  educating  the  youth,  who  are  so  situated  as 
that  by  a  moderate  addition  to  their  fortune,  which  they  might 
easily  gain  by  this  service,  might  live  easily,  and  have  a  mite  to 
spare  for  the  poor.  There  are  others  whom  God  has  so  blessed 
with  substance,  that  they  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  spend  the 
income  of  it ;  yea,  time  hangs  heavy  on  their  hands,  and  proves 
even  a  snare  to  themselves  and  others.  And  there  are  some 
who,  though  they  have  already  a  large  affluence  of  wealth,  yet 
are  toiling  hard  to  add  thereto,  without  knowing  wherefore  they 
thus  toil,  and  whether  a  wise  man  or  a  fool  shall  possess  it  after 
them.  Many  persons  in  these  different  situations  are  doubtless, 
in  the  main,  honest  souls,  who,  though  they  find  no  call  to  the 
ministry,  yet  think  themselves  willing,  with  one  of  old,  to  follow 
Christ  wheresoever  he  goes.  Why  then  do  they  stand  so  long 
idle,  when  so  large  a  field  lies  before  them  ?  What  account 
will  many  of  these  be  able  to  give  of  their  time,  when  every 
word,  and  consequently  every  inch  of  time,  must  expect  to  be 
called  into  judgment?  What  more  beneficial  employ,  and  more 
fruitful  of  comfort  and  joy  in  the  end,  than  time  spent  in  an 
honest  labour  for  the  properly  educating  these  innocent  souls, 
which  the  Almighty  has  clothed  with  flesh  and  blood,  and,  by 
Divine  help,  to  be  so  enabled  to  watch  over  them,  as  to  frustrate 
the  wiles  and  devices  of  the  grand  adversary,  that  so  these 


364 


MEMOIRS  i.ND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


youth  might  truly  answer  the  end  of  their  creation?    What  a 
beautiful  and  noble  prospect  do  such  thoughts  open  to  the  view 
of  those  whose  eyes  are  not  blinded  with  the  love  of  pleasure, 
ease,  or  profit  1    Why  do  so  many  suffer  the  God  of  this  world 
so  to  blind  their  eyes,  and  vitiate  their  reasonable  as  well  as  reli- 
gious senses,  as  to  suffer  them  to  toil  after  gain,  and  think  it  a 
mighty  thing,  and  themselves  notably  employed,  if  they  can  add 
£1,000  to  £1,000,  or  £10,000  to  £10,000,  and  that  often  by 
a  trade  far  from  being  pure  from  defilement,  as  such  gain  often 
arises  chiefly  from  the  purchase  and  sale  of  things  at  least  need- 
less and  vain,  if  not  of  a  defiling  nature  ;  an  instance  of  which  I 
have  often  painfully  observed  amongst  us,  where  it  is  frequent 
to  see  even  Friends,  toiling  year  after  year,  enriching  themselves, 
and  thus  gathering  fuel  for  their  own  and  their  children's  vanity 
and  corruption,  by  the  importation  and  sale  of  large  quantities 
of  rum,  &c.,  which,  though  good  in  its  place,  yet,  from  the  en- 
chanting allurement  it  is  of  to  nature,  and  from  the  excessive 
use  of  it,  may  truly  be  said  to  be  the  greatest  curse  that  ever 
befell  the  English  nation,  and  if  possible,  yet  more  so  to  the 
poor  natives  of  this  land.     That  a  man  should  labour  to  be- 
come rich,  and  amass  wealth,  a  state  which  our  Saviour  declares 
to  be  accompanied  with  snares  and  lusts,  which  tend  to  destroy 
the  soul — and  that  this  should  be  attained  by  the  increase 
and  importation  of  a  commodity  or  commodities,  which,  from 
the  quantity  already  imported,  proves  the   ruin  of  so  many 
thousands — is  this  keeping  clear  from  defilement,  and  wash- 
ing our  hands  in  innocency  ?    Now,  that  such  a  person  shall 
esteem  himself,  and  be  esteemed,  a  religious  man,  and  per- 
haps be  the  more  regarded,   even  by  religious   people,  be- 
cause he  is  rich  and  great,  is  a  mere  paradox ;  yet  is  it  too 
often  the  case.    Now,  as  this  is  so  conspicuous  a  weakness, 
and  much  of  this  nature  appears  amongst  many  otherwise 
good  people,   will  any  thoughtful  man,  who  is  in  earnest, 
desire  to  stay  long  in  this  vale  of  vanity  and  misery?    Alas ! 
no ;  but  I  believe  it  is  best  to  waive  these  thoughts,  and 


jETlT.  43.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


365 


endeavour  to  centre  in  that  charity  which  believeth  and  hopeth 
for  the  best ;  perhaps  this  also  often  arises  more  from  a  wrong 
education,  than  from  corruption  of  heart ;  mean  and  low  preju- 
dices, imbibed  for  want  of  proper  care  when  young,  are  doubtless 
the  occasion  of  many  of  the  weaknesses  and  inconsistencies 
which  so  much  dim  the  beauty  and  lessen  the  service  of  many, 
whom  God  intends  for  great  instruments  in  his  vineyard.  Well, 
my  mind  longs  to  see,  in  our  well-minded  Friends  everywhere, 
especially  the  younger  sort,  a  noble  emulation  for  the  welfare 
and  well-educating  of  the  youth.  If  a  number  of  such  Friends, 
in  their  different  allotments,  would,  as  it  were,  shake  hands  with 
the  world  and  all  its  enticing  prospects,  seeking  and  expecting 
nothing  from  it  but  bread  and  trouble,  and  would  freely  dedi- 
cate themselves  to  the  care  of  the  youth,  not  limiting  them- 
selves to  the  narrow  views  of  fleshly  ties,  nor  even  to  religious  de- 
nominations, but  looking  upon  themselves  as  fathers  and  brothers 
of  all  that  want  their  help,  taking  more  especial  care  to  make  the 
poor  and  helpless  the  first  objects  of  such  a  care,  not  solely  of  ne- 
cessity, but  of  a  willing  mind,  of  what  a  blessing  might  they  be, 
not  only  to  our  youth  in  particular,  but  also  to  mankind  in  general ; 
and  indeed  it  seems  to  me  that  our  principles,  which,  in  the  pre- 
sent corrupt  state  of  the  world,  seem  to  prohibit  our  meddling 
with  offices,  &c.,  naturally  point  out  to  us  as  a  people,  rather 
than  others,  to  serve  God  and  our  country  in  the  education  of  the 
youth.    I  will  acknowledge  that  it  is  a  situation  which  does  not 
appear  so  desirable  as  some  others,  nor  so  likely  to  procure 
riches,  ease,  or  worldly  honour.    But  alas  !  alas  !  what  have  we 
to  do  with  these  things  ?    Shall  we  desire  to  be  great  and  rich, 
when  our  Saviour  has  so  plainly  declared  it  a  situation  so 
very  dangerous ;  and  that  his  predominant  choice  is  of  the 
poor  of  this  world  ?    Is  it  now  a  time,  or  was  it  ever  a  time, 
for  the  believer,  who  eyes  and  relies  upon  the  promise — is 
it  a  time  for  such  to  seek  for  money,  or  olive-yards,  or  oxen, 
&c.  ?  and  although  by  engaging  in  the  education  of  the  youth 
we  should  be  deprived  of  some  of  those  things  so  desirable 


366 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1758. 


to  nature,  which  we  might  better  enjoy  and  accumulate  in  the 
way  of  trade,  and  thereby  look  upon  ourselves  under  affliction, 
yet  may  we  not  hope  that  it  will  be  termed  for  righteousness' 
sake,  and,  therefore,  should  not  we  have  thereat  to  rejoice,  and  be 
exceeding  glad,  and  even  leap  for  joy  ? 

And  I  would  farther  say,  from  years'  experience,  that  it  is  a 
great  mistake  to  think  that  the  education  of  youth  is  toilsome 
and  disagreeable  ;  it  is,  indeed,  not  so,  except  to  such  who  from 
a  desire  of  gain  take  upon  them  the  care  of  more  children  than 
they  ought,  or  neglect  to  bring  them  into  that  discipline  which, 
with  Divine  help,  and  proper  resolution,  is  generally  not  difficult. 
I  do  not  know  how  it  is  amongst  you,  but  here,  any  person  of 
tolerable  morals,  who  can  read  and  write,  is  esteemed  sufficient- 
ly qualified  for  a  schoolmaster  ;  when,  indeed,  the  best  and  wis- 
est men  are  but  sufficient  for  so  weighty  a  charge.  If  the  gov- 
ernments of  this  world  were  influenced  by  true  wisdom,  they 
would  have  made  the  proper  education  of  youth  their  first  and 
special  care.  I  earnestly  desire  our  Friends,  both  here  and 
amongst  you,  would  consider  of  it,  and  hearken  inwardly  to 
what  the  great  and  common  Father  would  suggest  in  this  weigh- 
ty matter.  Many  good  and  necessary  works  are  omitted,  solely 
because  custom  has  allowed  them  to  be  passed  over  as  not  neces- 
sary, nor  binding  upon  us  ;  when,  if  we  would  give  ourselves 
time  to  consider  them,  divested  from  custom  and  prejudice,  we 
should  see  them  to  be  weighty  and  indispensable  duties.  But  I 
fear  a  proposal  of  this  kind  would  prove  to  many  as  great  a  trial 
of  the  sincerity  of  their  love,  as  the  instance  of  the  young  man 
that  came  to  Christ.  Many  appear  to  have  a  love  to  Christ,  and 
would  sell  something  for  his  service,  especially  if  it  was  to  serve 
him  in  some  elevated  and  shining  sphere  ;  but  to  serve  Christ 
in  a  station  generally  so  little  regarded,  where  the  labour  of 
love,  though  ever  so  deep  and  sincere,  is  much  hid,  and  often, 
when  the  most  impartial,  but  the  more  disliked,  this  is  hard  for 
flesh  and  blood  to  encounter. 

Well,  dear  friend,  I  was  not  easy  without  thus  laying 


aSTAT.  43.] 


OT  SAMUEL  FOTHERQILl.. 


367 


before  thee  some  part  of  my  concern  and  prospect.  I  appre- 
hend, from  my  knowledge  of  thy  generosity,  I  need  make  no 
apology  either  for  the  strangeness  of  the  thought,  or  the  inco- 
herence of  the  style.  Whether  this  matter  will  appear  to  thee 
or  others  in  the  weighty  and  extensive  view  it  does  to  me,  or 
not,  I  must  leave,  and  remain  thy  friend, 

Anthony  Benezet. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

Warrington,  1759. 

Many  sympathize  with  their  brethren  amongst  you, 
who  suffer  for  conscience'  sake,  and  have  their  sufferings  aug- 
mented by  being  wounded  in  the  house  of  their  friends  ;  what 
shall  we  say,  but  refer  all  to  the  wisdom  of  that  Being,  who  best 
knows  by  what  means  to  winnow  away  the  chaff,  and  purify  to 
himself  a  peculiar  people  ?  I  trust,  in  and  through  all  these 
things,  the  great  Name  will  be  exalted,  and  the  Church  be  more 
and  more  evidently  built  on  that  which  cannot  be  removed. 
Strait  is  the  way  to  life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it,  is  a  remark 
which  hath  lost  no  part  of  its  truth  and  weight  by  its  antiquity. 

The  account  of  the  promising  prospect  of  the  youth  amongst 
you  is  to  me  cause  of  humble  thankfulness  to  the  ever-blessed 
Helper,  who  will,  in  his  own  way  and  manner,  carry  on  his  own 
cause,  and  make  the  place  of  his  feet  glorious  :  I  fully  believe 
that  it  is  his  purpose,  notwithstanding  the  day  is  dark  and 
gloomy ;  and  oh  that  the  natural  branches  of  our  vine  may 
never  be  plucked  away  for  their  unfruitfulness  ;  but  the  will  of 
the  Lord  be  done. 

I  often  nearly  remember  thee  and  thy  situation,  who  hath  a 
quicker  sense  of  feeling  than  many  others,  and  cannot  with 
indifference  behold  the  temple  violated  and  polluted  by  conten- 
tious, apostatizing  spirits  ;  may  healing  balm  and  heavenly  help 
be  supplied,  in  every  needful  lime.    Farewell,  beloved  friend, 


I 


368  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1758. 

let  us  remember  each  other  when  we  can,  and  carefully  watch 
to  the  end. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  1st,  1759. 

I  am  indebted  to  thee  for  the  affectionate  tokens  of  thy 
remembrance,  by  which  I  am  pleased  and  profited,  and  retain 
in  my  mind  a  very  near  and  just  regard  for  thee  and  thine  ; 
even  that  love  which  many  waters  cannot  quench,  or  remoteness 
of  place  impair  ;  in  the  spreading  whereof  I  am  often  present 
in  spirit  with  the  living  among  you,  with  whom  I  sympathize, 
and  ardently  wish  for  an  eternal  memorial,  being  well  content 
with,  and  thankful  for,  a  share  in  those  probations  which  are 
wisely  allotted  by  our  Heavenly  Father  to  his  most  favoured 
children,  in  this  the  house  of  our  pilgrimage.  The  first-born 
amongst  many  brethren,  the  Son  of  the  Highest,  trod  this  anx- 
ious path ;  and  the  disciple  ought  not  to  wish  to  be  above  his 
Master.  Dear  friend,  in  this  stands  our  peace  and  safety,  in 
being  baptized  with  his  baptism,  and  drinking  of  his  cup,  as 
obedient  children,  fashioned  after  his  image ;  though  many 
secret  and  obvious  scenes  may  attend,  yet  in  suffering  we  shall 
be  exalted,  and  reign  by  subjection. 

It  ever  gives  me  a  distinguished  pleasure  to  hear  of  and  from 
your  family  ;  gratitude  foryour  kind  hospitality  is  one,  but  not  the 
strongest  motive  ;  there  is  a  similarity  in  minds  which  cements  a 
hidden  union  ;  wherever  this  is  the  case,  the  connection  is  strong 
and  delicate,  because  it  is  founded  in  that  which  is  Divine  and 
permanent.  Thy  dear  children  are  often,  very  often,  as  fresh  in 
ray  mind  as  if  present  with  them  ;  and  I  am  persuaded  they  are 
under  His  notice  who  delights  to  perpetuate  his  blessings  in  the 
families  of  his  servants,  and  transmit  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion his  mercy,  goodness,  and  truth ;  may  this  inestimable  blessing 


I 


jEtat.  43.] 


OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILl. 


369 


be  precious  in  their  eyes,  and  the  humbhng  impressions  be  pro- 
perly prized  ;  so  will  peace  and  joy  be  spread  around  them,  and 
the  solicitude  of  their  parents  relieved  by  its  end  being  effectu- 
ally answered. 

I  am,  through  mercy,  restored  to  a  better  state  of  health  than 
I  once  expected  I  ever  should,  though  not  wholly  freed  from  a 
weakness  in  my  breast,  the  consequence  of  a  too  unguarded 
exertion  of  my  voice  :  care  is  now  necessary  to  attend  to  every 
circumstance  which  may  conduce  to  the  preservation  of  my 
health,  so  as  to  continue  capable  of  any  service,  if  any  should 
be  required. 

I  am  well  pleased  with  the  agreeable  accounts  of  the  service 
of  our  European  Friends  amongst  you ;  may  the  Lord  make 
them  a  blessing  to  you,  and  clothe  them  with  wisdom  and  pow- 
er ;  I  hope  you  will  be  kindly  affectioned  to  them  all,  and  ad- 
minister convenient  food  in  due  season,  though  it  may  be  re- 
proof ;  your  neglect  of  this  freedom  to  some  of  us,  to  whom  it 
Avas  due,  has  not  been  attended  with  the  best  effects. 

Whatever  my  heart  is  susceptible  of,  in  the  time  of  enlarge- 
ment, to  the  family  and  my  fellow  believers,  in  that  I  most 
affectionately  salute  thee,  thy  dear  husband,  and  children. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  5th  Mo.,  26th,  1759. 

The  friendship  I  had  the  great  happiness  to  contract 
with  thy  dear  husband  and  self,  remains  as  entire  and  animated 
as  ever  ;  for  an  excellent  reason  it  is  so — the  stream  will  flow 
while  the  fountain  supplies  it,  and  our  fountain,  I  trust,  will 
never  fail.  I  often  am  present  in  spirit  with  thee,  sometimes  a 
companion  of  thy  solitary  hours,  and  as  if  I  sometimes  shared 
with  thee  apart  in  those  baptisms  which  are  necessarily  and  wise- 
ly allotted  for  the  instruction  of  all  states.    A  time  will  come, 

my  dear  friend,  when  we  shall  with  Divine  ardour  and  holy 
48 


370 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1759. 


certainty,  close  our  anlhem  with  this  acknowledgment,  In  wis- 
dom hast  thou  made  all  thy  works  ;  until  which  event  attend  us, 
oh  may  all  the  days  of  our  pilgrimage  be  passed  in  vigilance 
and  filial  awe  !  It  hath  pleased  Divine  Providence  to  allot  me 
the  dispensation  of  a  tedious  indisposition,  which  hath  held  me 
all  winter,  and  is  not  wholly  removed ;  the  formation  of  an 
abscess  in  my  lungs  was  very  dangerous,  in  the  9th  Month  last, 
and  continued  so  for  some  time  ;  released  from  that  complaint, 
I  enjoyed  a  month's  half  health,  and  was  seized  with  something 
like  the  gout,  which  quickly  increased  to  a  violent  degree  ;  I 
got  relief,  but  remain  weak,  and  scarcely  able  to  walk  the  streets, 
my  limbs  being  much  debilitated  ;  yet,  as  moderate  exercise  is 
very  serviceable  to  me,  I  intend  setting  out  to-morrow  for  our 
approaching  Yearly  Meeting  in  London. 

This  humbling  baptism  of  long  sickness  hath  instructed  me, 
and  I  earnestly  pray  it  may  be  to  refine  me  :  the  heavens  were 
as  brass,  and  the  earth  as  iron  ;  and  I  thought  the  waterfloods 
and  terrors  of  the  great  deep  came  up  into  my  soul ;  all  comfort 
seemed  removed — nay,  the  hope  of  salvation,  at  times,  well 
nigh  failed  me.  But  though  I  walked  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  the  secret  invincible  Arm  was  underneath, 
when  I  durst  not  hope  it,  and  brought  me  again  to  praise  him 
in  the  land  of  the  living.  May  a  humble  sense  of  His  dealings, 
who  is  glorious  throughout  all  his  name,  remain  iny  covering  all 
his  days. 

I  have  lately  been  favoured  with  the  company  of  dear  John 
Haslam,  on  his  way  to  visit  the  Church  in  Ireland.  His  bodily 
strength  is  as  well  as  can  be  expected,  respecting  that  which 
must  decay  ;  his  spiritual  strength,  as  well  as  could  be  desired  ; 
and  all  who  have  spiritual  sense  to  discern  with,  (except  him- 
self,) see  him  very  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his 
might,  but  the  same  humble,  diffident,  lamb-like  Christian  he 
ever  was,  though  I  think  him  more  deep  in  heavenly  mysteries 
than  ever.    Thy  faithful  friend, 

S.  F. 


jETAT.  43.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


371 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  7th  Mo.,  18lh,  1759. 
Tliere  is  a  union  and  converse  of  spirit  whose  language 
is  too  diffusive  and  tender  to  be  thrown  upon  paper,  in  which 
communion,  the  ground  of  which  is  pure,  I  wish  our  increase 
and  stabihty  ;  and  it  is  a  prayer  not  unattended  with  faith,  that 
preservation  to  the  end  may  be  our  lot,  though  many  exercising 
scenes,  and  painful,  unaccompanied  steps,  through  solitary  paths, 
may  be  assigned,  in  a  wisdom  too  great  for  us  to  comprehend. 
My  dear  sister,  let  us  endeavour  to  possess  our  souls  in  patience, 
and  hops  in  quietness  ;  hereby  an  equanimity  is  attainable, 
that  preserves  all  our  spiritual  and  natural  faculties  clear  and 
useful,  neither  dejecting  into  too  deep  distress,  nor  exalting  into 
insecure  tranquillity,  nor  yet  relaxing  the  mind  into  forgetful- 
ness  of  what  is  ever  proper  to  attend  to.  How  safe  are  the 
followers  of  Wisdom,  who  causeth  those  who  love  her  to  inherit 
substance,  and  leadeth  them  in  the  midst  of  the  paths  of  judg- 
ment. 

I  am  humbly  thankful  to  the  Author  of  all  good,  for  the 
return  of  my  health  to  a  comfortable  degree,  and  for  the 
renewal  of  his  gracious  presence,  for  best  health,  it  is  a  crown- 
ing mercy  when  he  vouchsafes  to  favour  with  the  light  of  his 
coimtenance,  and  give,  if  but  an  imperfect,  yet  real,  glimpse  of 
the  seal  of  the  covenant ;  may  it  be  fresh  upon  us,  in  time  and 
in  eternity. 

 I...  I  am  ready  to  hope  the  present  situation  of  m}'' 

mind  is  not  remote  from  good,  I  feel  such  a  degree  of  love 
for  heaven,  for  those  that  dwell  therein,  and  for  those  that 
are  carefully  seeking  after  an  habitation  there.  As  I 'mused, 
this  evening,  the  fire  burned,  and  warmed  me,  and  I  felt 
thoe,  I  think,  (after  the  Author  of  good,)  near,  if  not  quite 
uppermost  in  my  remembrance  ;  and,  though  such  language 
as  I  am  capable  of  cannot  point  out  the  outlines  of  a  friend- 
ship, though  founded  in  nature,  yet  refined  and  strengthened 


372 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1759- 


by  grace,  and  rendered  strong,  if  I  do  not  presume  too  mucli 
for  myself,  by  as  imilarity  of  minds  ;  yet  I  am  most  free  and 
easy  to  tell  thee  I  remember  thee  in  that  love  which  is  not 
liable  to  change  or  decay,  and  renew  the  expression  of  my 
wishes  for  thy  sure  blessing  every  way.  For  my  own  part,  I 
am  quiet,  I  think  not  stupid  ;  I  am  often  very  poor,  but  I  remem- 
ber him  who  fasted  forty  days ;  I  at  times  meet  with  hidden 
sorrow,  but  I  call  to  mind  fair  weather  comes  out  of  the  north  ; 
and  if  the  present  light  afflictions  have  their  proper  effect,  they 
will  work  for  us  an  eternal  weight  of  glory  ;  a  superficial  view 
of  my  state  may  induce  many  to  think  I  am  remote  from  the 
vales  of  sorrow  and  disquietude  ;  but  I  often  tread  the  solemn, 
lonely  path  of  secret  mourning;  I  do  not  complain,  I  dare  not, 
I  ought  not,  for  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven,  is  wise,  righteous, 
and  good.  O,  may  he  renew  my  confidence  in  him,  and  be  my 
refuge  in  the  hour  of  need  ! 

I  am  not  out  of  love  with  myself,  my  state,  or  the  world ;  I 
have  at  times  an  evidence  renewed  which  makes  it  comfortable 
to  meet  my  God  in  the  cool  of  the  evening,  and  that  he  cares 
for  me  ;  no  uneasy  disappointment  disturbs  my  mind  respecting 
temporal  matters  ;  I  wish  to  climb  above  them,  into  the  secret 
place  of  the  Most  High,  and  I  feel  his  outstretched  arm  is  near 
for  the  glorious  purpose. 

Farewell,  my  friend  and  companion  in  the  solitary,  safe  way 
to  peace  ;  may  we  eye  our  guide,  and  follow  him  with  diligence, 
and  he  will  not  fail  us  ;  let  us  not  fly  away  on  the  wings  of 
levity  and  folly,  nor  derogate  from  the  rectitude  of  his  allot- 
ments, by  the  glooms  of  nature.  Remember  me  affectionately  ; 
tell  me  so  when  thou  can,  and  be  assured  of  my  most  affectionate 
regard  from  every  motive. 

S.  F. 

In  the  autumn  of  1759,  Samuel  Fothergill  performed  an 
extensive  visit  to  Friends  in  many  parts  of  the  west  of 
England,  also  in  the  city  of  Bristol,  and  some  other  places. 


MTkT.  43.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


373 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

St.  Ives,  9th  Mo.,  2d,  1759. 
Through  the  gracious  help  of  Providence,  I  have  to 
send  thee  the  account  of  my  arrival  here  in  good  health.  Yes- 
terday and  this  day  we  have  had  two  meetings  here,  very  large, 
especially  this  afternoon,  which  we  were  obliged  to  liold  upon 
the  sea  shore,  no  place  being  large  enough  for  the  reception  of 
the  people,  which  were  above  three  thousand,  the  country  com- 
ing in  for  many  miles  round ;  the  Lord  of  sure  mercies  was 
graciously  near,  and  magnified  his  own  name  and  Truth ;  to 
him  be  the  praise  of  his  own  works,  for  they  only  can  praise 
him. 

My  mind  is  comforted  in  being  here,  being  assured  I  am  in 
my  place,  and  my  health  is  much  confirmed  ;  I  hope  to  use 
every  prudent  precaution  to  preserve  it,  though  the  weight  of 
the  service  lays  much  upon  me,  there  being  none  in  the  minis- 
try but  myself,  besides  a  few  of  the  members  of  the  meeting. 
I  long  much  to  hear  from  thee.  I  hope  to  be  at  Plymouth  on 
fifth  day  evening  next,  at  Exeter  on  first  day,  and  Bristol  on 
fourth. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  CATHERINE  PAYTON. 

Warrington,  11th  Mo.,  3d,  1759. 
Since  my  return  home,  I  have  been  favoured  with  an 
acceptable  letter  from  thee,  and  should  have  made  several  epis- 
tolary visits  to  thee,  had  every  ether  circumstance  been  as 
favourable  as  my  inclination,  and  sincere  desire  for  thy  pre- 
servation and  stability  in  the  best  things.  It  is  very  acceptable 
to  hear  and  feel  that  He  who  hath  put  forth  goes  before  thee, 
and  attends  graciously  with  never-failing  help.  I  am  under  an 
awful  obligation  to  acknowledge  his  bounty  and  condescension, 
in  supporting  in  my  late  laborious  engagement,  and  we  have 
both  the  greatest  reason.    He  hath  preserved  us  by  the  right 


374 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1759. 


hand  of  his  power,  and  distinguished  humiHty,  obedience,  and 
watchful  fear  is  our  alone  place  of  safety  ;  may  we  abide 
therein,  that  with  unimpaired  strength  we  may  run  our  race 
and  finish  our  course.  And,  dear  friend,  it  halh  often  been  the 
cause  of  humiliation  and  sorrow  to  me  to  behold  the  unprofited 
state  in  which  many  remain,  who  hear  the  Truth  with  gladness, 
but  lay  not  hold,  fast  hold,  on  eternal  life  ;  the  ministry  is  to 
such  a  pleasant  sound,  but  for  want  of  rooting  their  beauty  is 
momentary,  and  succeeded  by  withering.  I  fear  that  island,  as 
well  as  this,  has  too  many  of  that  superficial  sort,  even  amongst 
those  who  think  themselves  to  be  something,  and  judge  of  their 
advance  in  life  by  their  pleasures  in  hearing  and  talking. 
There  is  a  remnant,  with  whom  my  soul  is  united  in  the  hea- 
venly covenant ;  these  have  one  Father  and  head,  and  unto  him 
is  their  eye  directed  ;  they  know  no  man  after  the  flesh,  nor 
have  trust  in  any  thing  short  of  the  renewings  of  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  and  they  well  know  nothing  else  can  keep  them  stead- 
fast and  immoveable  in  these  degenerate  days.  My  mind  will 
be  frequently  with  the  seed  in  the  approaching  solemnity,  with 
such  strength  of  desire  as  I  may  be  favoured  with  for  the  exalta- 
tion of  the  pure,  holy  Truth.  May  all  the  labourers  in  the 
Lord's  service  be  clothed  with  the  humihty,  meekness,  wisdom, 
and  strength  of  the  Lamb  ;  this  will  be  victorious  at  last,  when 
the  zeal,  will,  and  wrath  of  man  must  utterly  fail. 

Thy  complaint  of  the  state  of  the  Church  in  your  parts  is 
sorrowful,  and  it  is  much  more  so  when  the  cultivation  of 
the  heavenly  Hand  hath  been  more  abundantly  known,  and 
the  former  and  latter  rain  have  abundantly  descended,  and 
I  think  this  hath  been  the  case  of  this  county  in  a  remark- 
able degree.  I  mean  not  the  favours  conveyed  through  the 
channel  of  my  labours,  but  the  many  heavenly  visitations 
immediately,  and  through  others.  The  secret  love  of  the 
world  halh  prevailed  to  weaken  many  hands  the  Lord 
would  have  made  strong  for  himself ;  whereby  the  testimony 
is   deserted,  and  the  cords   slackened,   immoral  practices 


iETAT.  43.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


375 


connived  at,  and  very  few,  scarcely  any,  who  dare  stand  in  the 
gap.  Many  think  better  of  us  than  we  merit,  and  some  think 
I  may  be  strengthened  much  by  a  worthy  assistant,  who  seems, 
at  London,  clothed  with  zeal,  but  is  at  home  my  greatest  bur- 
den. May  our  minds,  dear  friend,  cleave  to  the  Preserver  of 
men,  that  thereby  strength  may  be  renewed  simply  to  suffer, 
and  simply  to  stand  in  the  counsel  of  God  ;  then  how,  where, 
and  lohat  we  are,  will  be  perfectly  right.  The  Lord  direct  thy 
steps  in  wisdom,  prudence,  and  zeal. 

S,  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  11th  Mo.,  13th,  1759. 
Though  neither  my  inclination  nor  capacity  allow 
iny  engagements  to  be  in  some  respects  so  arduous  as  thine, 
yet  there  are  as  many  and  as  laborious  as  my  strength  of  body 
and  mind  are  equal  to,  and  frequently  so  incumbering  as  to 
prevent  my  conversing  with  such  Friends  as  the  warmth  of  an 
affectionate  heart  would  frequently  recall  to  my  near  remem- 
brance. Thyself  and  dear  wife,  from  the  motives  of  gratitude, 
union  of  spirit,  and  similarity  of  sentiment,  are  often  present 
with  me,  and  that  friendship  is  not  at  all  impaired  which  united 
us  when  together,  and  I  hope,  according  to  your  Indian  phrase, 
"  The  chain  may  be  often  brightened."  And,  dear  Israel,  thou 
well  knowest  what  it  is  that  unites  to  all  the  living,  and  pre- 
serves in  the  unity  of  the  one  Spirit,  even  that  leaven  of  the 
kingdom,  which,  by  a  silent,  solemn,  and  efficacious  energy, 
begets  into  the  Divine  nature,  and  makes  the  whole  lump  con- 
genial with  itself  and  with  the  family.  It  is  uniform  in  its  ope- 
ration, ever  productive  of  one  glorious  end,  though  the  objects 
on  which  it  operates  may  be  various.  It  animates  the  gloomy, 
regulates  the  unstable,  and  causes  the  volatility  of  the  more 
vivacious  to  subside,  and  directs  them  to,  and  in,  their  respective 
services. 


376 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1759. 


When  I  see  the  diflferent  tempers  of  men,  I  am  confirmed  in 
a  strong  assurance  that  in  wisdom  the  Lord  hath  made  them 
all,  and  that  in  the  abundance  of  his  mercy  and  truth  he  would 
direct  them  to  his  glory,  and  sanctify  to  his  use  and  our  comfort. 
May  we  be  so  happy  as  to  be  completely  his  workmanship, 
which  is  beautiful,  and  the  praise  of  the  whole  earth.  I  feel  so 
great  occasion  for  a  jealousy  over  myself,  and  am  so  often  hum- 
bled by  one  thorn  or  another,  that  I  may,  perhaps,  from  that 
feeling,  be  giving  away  my  own  bread  to  one  that  has  less  need 
of  it  than  myself.  But  my  soul  is  humbled  within  me,  to  crave 
inward  establishment  in  the  holy,  hidden  life  of  the  Lamb,  and 
that  thence  the  complete  similitude  of  the  King's  sons  may  be 
our  happy  experience.  My  situation  is  such  as  to  exclude 
boasting,  and  guard  against  despondency ;  and  though  T  pass 
through  various  dispensalions,  their  end  I  consider  is  one,  and 
that  is  good,  though  the  path  to  it  may  at  times  lie  through  the 
shadow  of  death;  yet  this  evidence  I  have,  and  I  hope  never 
to  lose,  my  daily  desire  and  prayer  is,  in  the  language  of  the 
psalmist,  "  Let  my  heart  be  sound  in  thy  statutes."  As  to  the 
state  of  the  Church,  I  cannot  say  much  ;  I  think  she  is  going 
into  the  wilderness,  to  the  place  her  husband  hath  prepared  for 
her  there  ;  she  is  seldom  visible  about  the  dwellings  of  her  no- 
minal professors ;  many  make  use  of  her  name  for  fraudulent 
purposes  and  lucrative  views,  the  filthy  lucre  of  pre-eminence. 
I  know  them  by  this  mark — they  aspire  to  be  great,  and  not,  by 
becoming  little,  and  the  servants  of  all,  patient  toward  all  men. 
They  say  they  are  zealous,  some  think  them  so,  but  where  the 
eye  is  not  single,  no  zeal  can  be  there  that  is  of  the  right  sort. 

My  business  is  not  much  in  public  affairs.  Our  nation  is 
intoxicated  with  success.  I  cannot  rejoice  with  their  joy. 
Methinks  there  is  yet  behind  the  veil  something  to  teach  us 
righteousness.  The  commotions  of  this  present  day  have 
not  that  instructive  effect  on  the  people.  May  the  great 
Lord  of  heaven  and  earth  magnify  his  own  name  and  arm. 
I  believe  He  will  do  it,  and  that  the  day  is  near  at  hand  ; 


vETAT.  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


377 


that  he  will  work  his  wonderful  work.  Oh  that  our  names 
may  be  written  in  his  book,  enrolled  in  his  army  ;  so  shall  the 
strength  of  salvation  and  protection  be  our  portion.  Dear 
friend,  all  other  vision  is  a  dream,  and  all  labour  fruitless  or 
worse,  that  hath  not  some  tendency  to  promote  this  establish- 
ment. We  are  hastening  fast  through  the  scenes  of  time,  and 
everlasting  certainty  is  at  hand.  Oh,  therefore,  let  our  fervour 
be  directed  to  that  substance  the  wise  of  all  ages  have  chosen, 
and  leave  the  bustles  of  obstructing  things,  to  sit  at  the  feet  of 
the  Prince  of  Peace. 

My  love  is  to  thy  dear  spouse  ;  I  love  the  remembrance  of 
her  ;  I  wish  I  were  rich  in  spiritual  wealth,  I  would  freely 
communicate  some  to  her  if  I  could,  though  she  knows  the  way 
to  the  place  where  all  treasure  is  hid,  and  also  who  enables  to 
partake  thereof.  I  have  every  branch  of  thy  family  fresh  in  my 
affectionate  regard,  and  salute  them  with  unfeigned  love ;  may 
the  riches  of  all  the  righteous  generations  become  their  inherit- 
ance forever.  I  by  no  means  forget  poor  afflicted  Mary  Jordan  ; 
she  has  the  just  sympathy  of  my  heart  that  feels  for  her,  and 
what  is  infinitely  better,  the  tender  mercy  of  our  Father  who  is 
in  heaven,  an  appellation  given  to  him  from  the  heights  and 
from  the  depths.  Various  are  the  snares  attendant  on  unguarded 
health;  the  steps  of  youth  are  in  slippery  places  ;  our  stay  is 
momentary,  and  more  safe  in  the  house  of  mourning  than  in 
the  house  of  mirth. 

As  to  my  situation,  it  hath  either  been  a  scene  of  labour 
abroad,  or  sickness  at  home  :  I  have  been  on  the  brink  of  the 
grave  twice  last  winter.  This  seems  to  promise  better  health, 
and,  perhaps,  a  quiet  rest  at  home.  However  it  be,  I  am  con- 
tent, in  humble  confidence  in  the  sure  Helper  of  all  who  love 
and  fear  him.  I  will  conclude  with  the  assurance  of  sincere 
afTection  for  you  all,  in  that  which  remains  through  all  the 
changes  of  time. 

S.  F. 

49 


378 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1759- 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  12lh  Mo.,  2d,  1759. 
The  emotions  of  pure  friendship,  which  often  warm 
my  mind  towards  thee,  render  thy  welfare  and  prosperity  most 
desirable,  and  fill  my  mind  witli  unfeigned  sympathy  in  which 
I  tenderly  salute  thee.  From  thine  of  23d  of  8th  month,  I  find 
those  evidences  of  life  which  are  incontestible,  even  want  and 
anxiety  ;  I  wish  they  may  ever  continue  directed  towards  the 
everlasting  Supplier,  who  will  in  his  own  time  lead  to  Rehoboth, 
•where  all  sufficiency  reveals  itself  to  the  humble,  sincere  soul. 
It  is  infinitely  preferable  to  that  state  of  death,  and  consequently 
insensibility,  which  many  rejoice  in  as  their  principal  good.  We 
are  under  the  continual  notice  of  a  merciful  Father,  who  sees 
and  pities  us  ;  when  our  backslidings  correct  us,  he  mitigates 
the  severity  due,  and  turns  even  our  weaknesses  into  the  means 
of  renewing  strength,  and  renews  great  occasion  to  hope  all 
things  shall  work  together  for  good.  T  often  consider  the  situa- 
tion of  your  province  in  this  sifting  day,  in  which  a  separation 
is  made  between  the  true-hearted  followers  of  Christ,  though  in 
the  way  of  the  cross,  and  those  whose  building  is  upon  the  sand 
in  the  spirit  and  temper  of  an  unstable  world.  The  suffering  of 
the  true  seed  is  great,  and  the  wormwood  bitter.  These  things 
are  permitted,  and  may  be  the  introduction  to  greater  winnowing 
and  exercise  ;  but  the  Lamb  and  his  followers  will  be  finally 
victorious.  May  the  righteous  seed  therefore  be  patient,  and 
hope  to  the  end,  for  faithful  is  He  who  hath  called  into  this  day 
of  buffeting. 

Our  worthy  friend  Joseph  White  is  about  Durham.  His 
service  is  not  merely  very  acceptable,  but  solidly  beneficial ;  I 
have  known  none  more  eminently  favoured  with  the  wisdom 
and  authority  of  Truth.  His  health  is  not  fully  confirmed, 
though  he  is  able  to  travel  diligently. 

Farewell,    my  dear  friend  ;  may  the  hand  which  hath 


^TAT.  44.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  379 

supported  in  many  concealed  and  obvious  trials,  and  encouraged 
to  hope  in  his  salvation,  be  reverently  waited  for.  If  we,  on 
our  part,  remember  and  follow  as  we  ought,  our  Rock  will  not 
sell  us,  nor  ever  fail ;  the  Lord  our  righteousness  will  make  way 
for  us,  and  exalt  our  drooping  heads  in  his  own  time. 

S.  F. 


CHAPTER  X. 


The  firm  belief  of  Samuel  Fothergill  in  the  great  doc- 
trines of  the  Christian  religion,  as  held  by  the  religious  Society 
of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  his  entire  conviction  of  the 
truth  and  propriety  of  the  various  testimonies  of  the  Society, 
and  of  their  accordance  with  the  doctrines  and  precepts  of  the 
New  Testament,  were  not  in  him  the  result  of  education  or 
tradition.  He  had  diligently  examined  for  himself  the  grounds 
upon  which  they  rested  ;  for  this  examination,  and  the  thorough 
conviction  which  it  produced  upon  his  mind,  he  was  well  ena- 
bled, through  the  grace  and  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  recom- 
mend and  to  explain  these  principles,  to  advocate  them  as  occa- 
sions arose,  and  to  defend  them  when  questioned  or  attacked. 

This  full  acquaintance  with  the  principles  of  the  Society,  and 
his  well-known  ability  to  explain  and  enforce  them,  together 
with  the  eminent  station  which  he  occupied  as  a  minister, 
caused  frequent  applications  to  be  made  to  him  for  advice  and 
assistance  ;  it  introduced  him  into  much  correspondence,  and 
an  extended  care  over  many  parts  of  the  Society. 

For  several  years  before  his  visit  to  America,  and  ever  after 
his  return,  he  was  a  constant  attender  (when  health  permitted) 
of  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London,  and,  with  his  brother  John^ 
took  a  deep  interest,  and  no  inconsiderable  share,  in  the  trans- 
actions of,  and  various  important  concerns  which  came  before 
that  assembly.  Several  of  the  printed  Epistles  during  this  period 
contain  strong  evidence,  in  their  language  and  style,  that  portions 
of  them  were  of  his  composition.  From  the  records  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting  in  1753,  it  appears  that  he  then  proposed  the 


jETAT.  44.] 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS,  &C. 


3S1 


establishment  of  a  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  and 

several  minutes  occur  on  the  subject  Tiie  proposal 

made  by  our  friend  Samuel  Folhergill  respecting  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  being  re- 
considered, was  referred  to  the  consideration  of  the  Committee 
for  drawing  up  the  Epistle  John  Fry,  from  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  consider  the  proposal  made  by  Samuel 
Folhergill  with  respect  to  the  holding  a  General  Meeting  for 
Ministers  and  Elders  annually  in  this  city,  brought  in  a  report, 
in  which  they  say,  That  having  solidly  considered  the  proposi- 
tion, it  is  their  sense  and  judgment  thai  it  may  contribute  to  the 
advantage  of  the  Society  to  have  such  a  meeting  of  Ministers 
and  Elders  established.  The  report  was  read  and  considered, 
and  on  the  following  day  it  was  agreed  that  it  should  remain 
solidly  on  Friends'  minds,  and  in  the  year  following  it  was  deli- 
berately considered  and  concluded.  The  regulations  proposed, 
and  then  agreed  upon,  for  the  said  meeting,  are  nearly  the  same 
as  at  the  present  time. 

In  the  same  year,  1753,  it  is  recorded  that  S-  Folhergill 
brought  in  from  the  Committee  an  Epistle,  to  be  sent  in  MS. 
to  the  several  Quarterly  Meetings  ;  the  Epistle  is  fraught  with 
excellent  counsel. 

Of  the  character  adverted  to  in  a  preceding  paragraph,  are 
several  of  the  following  letters. 

In  the  beginning  of  1760,  he  was  engaged  in  some  corres- 
pondence with  R.  Selby,  the  clergyman  of  a  neighbouring 
parish  (Budworlh).  The  daughter  of  a  friend  near  that  place 
had  been  married  before  this  individual,  and,  previously  to 
the  ceremony  of  the  marriage,  he  had  insisted  upon  her  sub- 
milting  to  the  rite  of  water  baptism.  The  marriage  was  one 
of  peculiar  aggravation  and  distress  to  her  parents,  who  were 
treated  with  much  unkindness  by  the  clergyman ;  they  applied  for 
counsel  and  consolation  to  Samuel  Folhergill,  and  the  following 
extracts  are  from  some  of  his  letters  to  R.  Selby  on  the  occasion. 

"  I  am  convinced,  by  the  testimony  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 


382 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760, 


"  that  the  sprinkling  of  water  upon  the  face  of  either  adults  or 
"  infants  hath  no  warranlry  therein  :  it  is  neither  the  baptism  of 

"  John,  nor  of  our  blessed  Redeemer  ;  but  having  no 

"  ground  in  Holy  writ,  nor  example  nor  precept  therein,  corro- 
"  borating  thy  practice,  and  it  appearing  foreign  to  the  nature 
"  of  the  religion  of  the  Holy  Jesus,  I  disclaim  it,  as  being  one 
"  of  the  inventions  of  men  apostatized  from  the  power  and  pu- 
"  rity  of  the  Gospel.  Had  thy  mind  been  happily  subjected 
"  to  the  purifying  effects  of  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the 
"  baptism  that  now  saves,  and  of  which  the  Holy  Jesus  was 
"  and  is  the  minister,  I  persuade  myself  thou  wouldest  have 
"  acted  a  different  part." 

 "I  suppose  thy  remark  on  S.  C*  being  an  enemy  to 

"  the  religion  of  his  country,  is  a  reflection  on  our  Society.  I 
"  trust  we  are  not  enemies  to  true  religion,  which  avails  before 
"  God  the  Father.  It  is  true,  we  think  differently  from  some 
"  others  respecting  it,  believing  its  chief  emolument  is  sanctity 
"  of  heart,  and  the  favour  of  God,  and  not  lucrative  advantages. 
"  We  have  reason  to  believe  there  yet  remain  men  who  sup- 
"  pose  gain  is  Godliness,  and  are  more  concerned  to  advocate 
"  their  claims  by  temporal  motives,  than  by  the  love  of  Christ ; 
"  and  from  such  we  turn  away." 

In  reply  to  some  harsh  and  unjust  expressions  of  his  corres- 
pondent respecting  himself,  S.  Fothergill  writes  thus  : 

"  I  am  very  free  to  tell  thee  I  make  not  merchandise  of  reli- 
"  gion  :  I  amuse  not  the  people  with  the  false  traffic  of  unfelt 
"  truths.  I  confess  some  of  the  earlier  scenes  of  my  life  were 
"  passed  in  folly,  vanity,  and  infidelity  ;  but  having  found  mercy 
"  with  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  and  knowing  the  terrors  of 
"  the  Lord  for  sin,  I  endeavour  to  persuade  others  to  be  recon- 
'*  ciled  unto  God,  by  forsaking  every  evil  way,  and  turning  to  him 
»'  in  faith  and  prayer,  with  their  whole  hearts.  This  is  the  end  of 
"  my  labour,  and  its  whole  intention  ;  for  this  I  am  willing  to 


•  The  father  of  the  young  woman. 


^TAT.  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


383 


"  spend  and  to  be  spent,  without  any  fee  or  reward  from  men. 
"  The  Lord  judge  between  me  and  thee  in  this  matter." 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  R.  OLIVER ,» 

Warrington,  1760. 

My  friend,  Abraham  Rawhnson,  some  time  ago,  gave 
me  thine,  dated  11th  of  April,  which  brought  thy  Commissary's 
remarks  on  the  suffering  case  of  the  Webster's,  which  A.  R. 
had,  at  my  request,  put  into  thy  hands  some  time  since.  A 
tedious  indisposition,  and  a  necessary  inquiry  into  the  truth  of 
the  Commissary's  aspersions,  have  prevented  my  eariier  attempt 
to  suggest  a  few  sentiments  to  thy  consideration,  on  account  of 
thy  Commissary's  letter ;  I  hope  for  thy  candour  in  doing  it 
now. 

Much  might  be  said  to  his  "  concurrence  in  opinion,  that 
every  civil  government  ought  highly  to  discourage  every  excuse 
and  pretence  which  are  alleged  to  be  founded  on  principles  of 
conscience,  for  a  premeditated  disobedience  to  the  laws  of  their 
country  ;"  as  also  to  his  charge  of  the  most  "  perverse  obsti- 
nacy." May  I  not  query  whether  this  is  not  a  full  justification 
of  all  the  high  discouragements  the  primitive  Church  suffered 
from  Jewish  and  Gentile  governments,  and  those  inflicted  on 
the  reformers  from  Popery,  the  founders  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land ?  The  hierarchy  of  those  days  called  their  invincible  con- 
stancy, "  the  most  perverse  obstinacy."  Hath  not  this  been  the 
language  of  a  perseculing  spirit,  from  the  time  of  the  accusa- 
tion of  our  Saviour  by  the  chief  priests ;  both  Jews  and  Gen- 
tiles, and  those  worst  of  Gentiles,  persecutors  professing  the 
religion  of  the  Prince  of  peace  and  love,  and  counteracting  it  to 
the  utmost  of  their  power  by  acts  of  cruelty  and  injustice  ?  I 

*  Probalily  Robert  Oliver,  who  was  Vicar  of  the  parish  of  Warton,  near 
Lancaster,  from  1734  to  1775.  I  have  not  been  able  to  collect  any  further 
particulars  of  the  case  named  in  this  letter. — G.  C. 


384 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760, 


apprehend  the  case  in  question  is  a  proof  of  this  unchristian 
disposition,  and  that  it  is  in  the  first  instance  illegal  and  unjust, 
and  that  no  law  of  our  country  subjects  us  to  pay  wages  to  a 
parish  clerk  ;  and  I  am  ready  to  put  it  to  the  issue  of  common 
law.  Perhaps  this  might  be  known  to  the  prosecutor,  and 
thence  he  was  induced  to  put  them  into  the  Ecclesiaslical 
Court,  where  they  might  be  harassed  and  lurched  into  a  con- 
tempi,  and  subjected  to  every  hardship  a  court  hateful  to  God 
and  man  hath  power  to  inflict.  Their  being  sued  there  was 
for  an  illegal  and  unjust  demand,  and  every  act  of  that  court 
was,  and  is,  accumulated  injustice.  We  have  no  reason  to  hope 
for  any  compliment  to  our  religious  scruples  from  chancellors 
and  registrars.  We  have  read  of  such  officers,  and  their  con- 
duct, in  Queen  Mary's  days,  and  we  apprehend  succeeding 
times  have  only  varied  the  object,  not  the  nature  of  the  people's 
zeal.  I  freely  own  we  are  entirely  at  ease  with  respect  to  any 
spiritual  disadvantage  accruing  to  us  from  excommunication. 
The  judge  of  the  whole  universe  is  not  at  the  beck  of  any  merce- 
nary officer,  whether  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  to  execute  his  sen- 
tence of  injustice  and  oppression,  at  the  price  of  his  own  attri- 
butes of  love  and  compassion.  Nay,  indeed,  whilst  such  in- 
struments of  cruelty  are  found  in  the  habitations  of  Simeon  and 
Levi,  may  not  thinking  men  say  with  old  Jacob,  "  Oh  my  soul ! 
come  not  thou  into  their  secret ;  unto  their  assembly,  mine 
honour,  be  not  thou  united." 

I  was  astonished  at  the  account  he  gave  me  of  two  Quakers 
being  lessees  of  wool  and  lambs,  and  suing  as  appellants,  be- 
cause the  appellees  had  not  made  a  sufficient  tender.  6cc.  I 
have  heard  of  many  instances,  and  known  some,  where  Quakers 
being  possessed  of  estates  by  inheritance  or  purchase,  to  which 
tithes  belonged,  have,  without  any  temporal  consideration  dis- 
membered them  from  their  estates,  and  in  the  strongest  manner 
conveyed  them  to  the  land  owners  from  whose  estate  they  arose, 
being  as  conscientiously  concerned  against  receiving  as  paying 
them  ;  but  never  before  heard  of  their  suing  for  them.  I  procured 


iETAT.  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


385 


an  inquiry  to  be  made  into  this  matter,  and  were  I  disposed  to 
give  thy  Commissary  as  hard  words  as  he  uses  for  Webster's  con- 
scientious dissent,  I  might  keenly  recriminate,  but  I  spare  him. 
Two  Papists  commenced  such  a  suit,  but  that  two  Quakers  did, 
I  call  upon  him  to  prove.  I  have  copies  of  two  certificates,  one 
from  the  plaintiff's  solicitor,  and  one  from  the  defendant's  proc- 
tor, as  my  vouchers  ;  the  originals  are  in  my  hands  May  I 
not  call  in  question  thy  Commissary's  claim  to  the  epithets  of 
"  good  and  worthy,"  who  can  thus  take  up  and  make  a  false  re- 
port, and  impose  upon  thee  with  it. 

I  am  much  mistaken  in  the  judgment  I  have  formed  of  my 
friend  Oliver,  if  these  remarks  are  in  iiis  sight  insignificant.  I 
cannot  think  thy  nature  unfeeling,  and  am  persuaded  religion 
would  improve  every  sentiment  of  sympathy  with  distress,  es- 
pecially where  imjustly  procured  and  unmerited.  I,  therefore, 
appeal  to  the  man,  to  the  Christian,  for  redress,  which  I  hope 
is  in  thy  power  to  procure.  For  though  we  fear  no  spiritual 
damages  from  excommunication,  as  now  prostituted,  we  know 
there  are  temporal  ones  which  do  affect  the  already  injured, 
oppressed  parties.    I  am  thy  real  friend  and  well  wisher, 

Samuel  Fothergill, 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HLS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  3d  Mo.,  23d,  1760. 

I  am  favoured  with  pretty  good  health,  a  blessing 
greatly  to. be  prized,  and  in  other  respects  quiet  and  content ;  I 
do  not  abound,  nor  am  I  wholly  destitute  :  I  have  more  than  I 
have  merited,  and  if  I  be  stript,  I  acquiesce  with  His  will, 
whom  I  think  I  can  call  My  Father  who  is  in  heaven. 

The  revolving  year  brings  nigh  a  season  I  look  at  with  the  al- 
ternate sensations  of  pleasure  and  sorrow,  as  these  result  from 
meeting  with  similar  spirits,  and  being  renewedly  baptized  with 
them  for  ourselves,  for  the  living  and  the  dead.    It  is  pleasing 

beyond  expression  to  renew  a  personal  converse  with  those 
50 


386  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1760. 

who  are  dear  to  me  from  every  tie  ;  and  to  see  a  brother  and 
sister  in  the  strongest  union,  conveys  a  pleasure  which,  like  the 
connexion,  is  deeper  than  nature. 

Yesterday,  I  received  an  invitation  from  Jonathan  Laycock, 
of  Halifax,  to  the  burial  of  his  wife.  To  which  an  apprehen- 
sion of  duty  obliges  me  to  submit,  though  I  confess  not  without 
reluctance.  But  I  only  ask  to  be  right,  and  leave  the  what  and 
the  where.  I  expect  little  more  rest.  Our  northern  Yearly 
Meeting,  that  for  Wales,  and  London,  are  coming  fast  on  ;  I  am 
thankful  for  the  present  share  of  ability,  which  I  hope  will  con- 
tinue proportioned  to  the  labour  of  the  day. 

Our  worthy  ancient  friends,  Grace  Chambers*  and  Lydia 
Lancaster,  are  about  to  set  out  on  a  long  journey  ;  I  expect 
them  here  next  week,  and  they  intend  for  the  Welsh  Yearly 
Meeting,  Bristol,  Bath,  and  London.  Full  of  days  and  full  of 
virtue,  their  spirits  are  refined,  by  long  experience,  into  a  meet- 
ness  for  the  holy  inheritance. 

S.  F. 

*  Grace  Chambers  was  born  at  Monkheselden,  in  the  county  of  Durham, 
and  about  the  year  1713,  on  being  married,  she  removed  to  near  Kendal. 
She  was  of  strict,  exemplary  life  and  conversation,  remarkable  for  her 
great  plainness  and  simplicity  of  apparel,  manners,  and  deportment,  as  well 
as  for  openness  and  generosity  to  her  friends,  and  hospitality  lo  all,  espe- 
cially to  the  poor.  She  had  free  access  to  many  families  of  distinction,  to 
whom  her  affectionate  visits  were  acceptable,  and  of  service.  She  pos- 
sessed considerable  skill  in  surgery, and  in  administering  relief  in  many  dis- 
orders ;  and  this  she  did  without  fee  or  reward,  and  devoted  much  of  her 
time  to  visiting  the  sick  and  those  in  affliction,  to  whom  she  was  very  help- 
ful. As  a  minister,  she  was  strong  and  lively  in  her  testimonies,  even 
when  bodily  ability  had  much  abated.  She  finished  a  well  spent  life,  at 
her  own  house  at  Sedgwick,  near  Kendall,  in  9th  Month,  1762,  aged  8.5 
years;  being  favoured  at  last  with  a  comfortable  evidence  of  gracious  ac- 
ceptance. 


JETAT.  44.]  OF  SAMUEL  tOTHERGILL.  38^ 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  4th  Mo.,  7th,  1760. 

I  was  favoured  with  thine,  and  must  acknowledge 
it  was  acceptable,  though  it  brought  me  the  tidings  of  thy 
dear  daughter's*  departure  out  of  this  troublesome  world  ; 
and  I  doubt  not  but  thy  mind  will  be  so  favoured  with  that 
calm  acquiescence  with  the  present  dispensation,  as  to  be  ena- 
bled to  say,  It  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  let  him  work  as  it 
pleaseth  him.  It  is  a  debt  we  must  all  pay,  and  we  ought  not 
to  repine  at  the  hour  of  our  summons.  Indeed,  when  the  race 
is  shortened,  and  a  quicker  transition  to  eternal  peace  is  granted 
than  through  the  long,  laborious  scenes  of  sorrow  allotted  to 
many,  it  may  be  considered  and  prized  as  a  mercy,  and  doubt- 
less will  be  so  in  the  cool  moments  of  sedate  meditation,  when 
the  mind  is  loosened  from  lower  connexions,  and  reaching  on- 
wards to  the  immutable  union  and  inseparable  fellowship  of  the 
Lord's  family.  I  was  much  comforted  to  observe  in  thine  the 
happy,  blessed  end  dear  Mary  was  favoured  with  ;  I  trust  the 
remembrance  of  it  vi'ill  often  solace  her  parents,  and  may  it  be 
memorably  instructive  to  her  surviving  brothers  and  sisters, 
who  know  not  how  soon  they  must  close  their  eyes  to  all  visible 
things.  Then,  O  then,  a  religious,  watchful  life,  spent  in  the 
Divine  fear,  will  appear  as  it  really  is,  an  absolutely  necessary 
preparation  to  what,  in  a  solemn  hour,  is  eligible  to  all — even  a 
happy  conclusion.  I  nearly  and  affectionately  sympathise  with 
thee,  in  the  various  exercising  steps  thou  hast  assigned  thee  to 
tread.  I  doubt  not  but  the  present  afflictions  will  work  for  thee 
a  more  exceeding  weight  of  glory  ;  and  such  times  of  favour 
will  be  renewed,  as  to  enable  thee  to  rejoice  in  tribulation.  May 
the  ancient  Helper  of  his  humble  children  graciously  support 
thee,  and  lead  forward  in  the  way  to  true  peace  ;  thatj  in  the 


*  Mary  Jordan, 


388 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760. 


obedience  of  faith,  thou  mayest  be  established,  and  all  things 
work  together  under  Divine  direction  for  thy  comfort  in  hope. 

I  am  about  preparing  a  few  instances  of  the  great  advantage 
and  necessil}-  of  early  piety,  intending  to  print  them,  with  some 
little  introduction,  believing  they  may  be  of  some  use.  I  think 
thy  testimony  concerning  thy  dear  daughter  will  greatly  add  to 
the  value  and  usefulness  of  such  a  performance  ;  and  I  believe 
thou  wilt  not  have  any  objection  to  my  gathering  up  her  valua- 
ble fragments.* 

I  am,  through  mercy,  in  a  pretty  good  state  of  health.  I  have 
been  much  about  home  this  winter,  not  wholely  useless,  nor 
idle  ;  as  the  summer  advances,  it  seems  likely  I  may  be  more 
abroad,  though  I  have  no  clear  perception  of  any  long  journey. 
The  visitation  of  the  Shepherd  of  Israel  seems  extending  itself, 
and  in  some  place,  with  a  blessed  prevalence  to  the  scattered 
sheep  amongst  us,  bringing  some  near  who  have  been  afar  off, 
as  well  as  bringing  here  and  there  one  to  the  saving  knowledge 
of  his  own  Truth.  May  his  work  prosper,  and  the  place  of  his 
feet  become  more  and  more  glorious. 

Our  worthy  ancient  friends,  Grace  Chambers,  in  her  84th 
year,  and  Lydia  Lancaster,  in  her  77th,  were  lately  with  us, 
on  a  religious  visit ;  they  bend  their  course  towards  Bristol  and 
some  adjacent  places,  and  thence  to  London.  They  are  as 
well  as  can  be  expected,  considering  their  great  age,  and  bravely 
strong  in  the  root  of  living  virtue.  O,  desirable  state  indeed,  to 
have  run  a  bright  and  glorious  race,  and  be  enriched  with  treasure, 
ancient  and  new  ;  green  in  old  age,  monuments  of  Almighty 
power  and  goodness,  descending  to  the  grave,  as  much  of  them  as 
the  grave  can  hold,  but  the  immortal  part  renewed  in  holy  ardour, 
and  happy  in  the  evident  foretaste  of  everlasting  felicity.  I  have 
not  seen  Joseph  White  for  several  months  ;  his  service  in  this 

*  What  progress  was  made  by  S.  F.  in  this  collection  does  not  now 
appear.  He  did  not  publish  any  such  work,  and  no  remains  of  it  were 
found  after  his  decease. 


iETAT.  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


389 


land  is  truly  acceptable  and  useful ;  his  master  is  eminently 
with  him,  and  I  trust  will  keep  him  in  the  simplicity  and  power 
of  the  Gospel.  Assure  thyself  of  my  most  cordial  affection 
being  ever  warm  to  thee  and  thine,  in  which  I  wish  you  all  hap- 
piness ;  in  this,  and  the  salutation  of  near  love,  my  wife  joins 
with  thy  sincere  friend, 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  4th  Mo.,  10th,  1760. 
 As  I  tenderly  love  you,  I  rejoice  in  whatever  at- 
tends you  that  is  prosperous,  particularly  that  our  gracious  Lord 
and  Lawgiver  overshadows  your  meetings,  when  the  body  is 
collectively  assembled  for  his  service.  He  hath  ofen  limited 
the  turbulent  waves  which  contentious  spirits  have  raised,  and 
for  his  own  name's  sake  made  evidently  bare  his  holy  arm.  I 
have  often  remarked  it  with  admiration  and  worship  of  heart, 
and  learned  from  it  that  if  we  do  the  Lord's  work  in  his  spirit, 
no  weapon  formed  against  us  shall  prosper.  I  am  thankful  for 
the  proofs  repeatedly  afforded,  that  we  are  brethren,  and  are  in 
that  spiritual  fellowship  which  is  not  straitened  by  distance  of 
place,  and  therein  are  capable  of  adapting  matter  suitable  to 
your  slates  in  our  annual  assembly.  Those  epistles  have  re- 
quired a  vigilant  eye,  to  prevent  their  being  prejudicial  instead 
of  helpful ;  for  there  are  too  many  amongst  us,  as  well  as  you, 
who  consider  the  approbation  of  men,  more  than  the  conformity 
to  the  pattern  God  clearly  showed  to  the  living  amongst  us  in 
his  holy  mount. 

 1  have  just  now  received  from  London,  the  enclosed 

printed  epistle.  I  thought  for  some  time  I  had  a  concern  to 
send  Friends  of  Tortola  a  few  hints,  and  I,  therefore,  threw  to- 
gether a  few  sentiments.  I  sent  it  up  to  my  brother  for  his 
consideration  ;  he  laid  it  before  the  Morning  Meeting,  who,  with 
some  little  immaterial  alteration  in  the  words,  directed  it  to  the 

V 


390 


•MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760. 


press,  as  it  was  considered  that  the  transient  reading  of  an  epis- 
tle once  in  a  meeting,  might  be  of  less  use  than  printing  such  a 
number  as  might  supply  every  family  with  several.  One  hun- 
dred of  them  will  be  sent  to  Tortola  

My  time  hath  been  pretty  much  employed,  in  one  little  ser- 
vice or  another,  during  the  past  winter ;  and  I  have  got  peace 
of  mind,  and  that  is  very  great  riches.  I  am  obliged  to  thee 
for  the  Yearly  Epistle  from  Philadelphia.  It  contains  profitable 
truths,  and  will,  I  doubt  not,  be  of  service.  I  think  the  artless 
simplicity  of  the  Gospel,  unlaboured  in  point  of  diction,  is  most 
likely  to  add  weight  to  these  epistles ;  and,  perhaps,  if  you 
judge  it  necessary  to  continue  the  practice  of  printing  yearly 
epistles,  you  may  study  simplicity  and  plainness  of  address. 
Though  I  suppose  you  will  hardly  judge  it  necessary  to  print 
every  year,  lest  the  wheels  be  clogged,  and  the  frequency  of 
instruction  destroy  its  use. 

I  most  sincerely  wish  ihee  every  degree  of  essential  happi- 
ness, and  that  peace  and  satisfaction  which  alone  soothes  the 
sorrows,  and  alleviates  the  distress  of  our  probationary  prilgrim- 
age.  S.  F. 

The  following  is  the  Epistle  mentioned  in  the  foregoing 
letter  : — 

TO  FRIENDS  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  TORTOLA. 

Warrington,  3d  Mo.,  17tli,  1760. 

Dear  Friends, 

Though  I  am  personally  a  stranger,  and  unknown 
to  most  of  you,  yet  ye  have  been,  of  late  time  especially,  so 
frequently  the  subject  of  close  thoughtfulness  to  niC,  and  with 
so  much  warmth  as  to  engage  my  mind  to  visit  you  in  a  collec- 
tive capacity  with  this  Epistle,  from  some  apprehension  of 
duty,  and  with  a  heart  replenished  with  sincere  good-will,  in 
which,  I  wish  you  the  possession  of  that  happiness  which  is 
everlasting.  ' 


^TAT.  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


391 


It  was  tidings  of  great  joy  to  the  living  body  of  Friends  in 
lliis  land,  to  hear  that  the  Lord  Almighty  was  at  work  in  your 
island,  to  beget  children  to  himself;  and  that  the  same  substan- 
tial virtue  which  wrought  upon  many,  in  this  and  other  nations, 
to  redeem,  and  purify  them  a  people  to  the  praise  of  his  great 
Name,  had  also  visited  you  with  a  day-spring  from  on  high,  and 
produced  the  same  blessed  fruits  in  measure,  even  a  death  unto 
sin,  and  a  new  birth  unto  righteousness  ;  and  by  the  baptism 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  brought  them  into  the  one  spiritual  body, 
whereof  Chnst  is  head.  Oh  the  tenderness,  the  fear,  and  watch- 
fulness, which  attended  some  of  your  souls  in  that  day  ! — a 
precious  day  of  visitation,  which  ought  for  ever  to  be  remem- 
bered ;  a  day  wherein  the  Lord  allured  some  of  you,  and  brought 
you  into  the  wilderness,  speaking  comfortably  to  you,  and  in  his 
own  time  gave  you  vineyards  from  thence  ;  some  of  you,  I  be- 
lieve, have  in  remembrance  those  times  of  Divine  betrothing, 
and  cannot  but  acknowledge  it  was  the  Lord's  doing.  Then 
the  mind  was  humbled  as  in  the  dust,  and  a  living  concern  arose, 
to  walk  in  white,  and  to  enter  into  covenant  with  the  Lord  your 
God ;  a  covenant  you  then  hoped  would  never  be  broken.  In 
this  simplicity  of  heart,  the  Lord's  children  are  ever  safest.  Al- 
mighty power  watching  over  them  for  good,  and  regarding  with 
a  Father's  care.  As  individuals  amongst  you  were  thus  enga- 
ged, the  sympathy  and  fellowship  of  the  one  body  spread  over 
sea  and  land,  and  we  became  as  epistles  wrolc  in  one  another's 
hearts,  and  were  baptized  by  the  one  Spirit  into  the  one  body, 
wherein  is  the  bond  of  peace  and  unity  of  the  saints.  In  this 
stood  our  rejoicing  on  your  account ;  for  it  is  not  the  accession 
of  numbers  to  our  name,  but  the  gathering  of  souls  to  the  ever- 
lasting Shepherd,  which  gives  joy  to  l^ie  Lord's  family  in  hea- 
ven and  earth. 

Now,  dear  Friends,  is  not  the  dew  of  your  morning  at  times 
brought  to  recollection,  and  its  heavenly  relish  remembered? 
Yet,  hath  not  a  loss  sensibly  attended  vou,  and  the  once  prom- 
ising plantation  amongst  you  become  less  fruitful  and  beautiful? 


392 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760. 


If  so,  where  shall  we  inquire  for  the  cause  ?  We  shall  not 
find  any  deficiency  in  Divine  compassion ;  but  the  loss  hath 
been  occasioned  by  a  neglect  to  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord  in 
his  own  way  and  leading,  and  a  departure  in  heart  from  him 
hath  ensued,  whereby  the  work  hath  been  marred,  and  that 
goodness,  wherein  the  holy,  unchangeable  One  would  have  es- 
tablished you,  and  rendered  a  permanent  blessing  and  beauty  to 
you,  hath  been  to  too  many  as  a  morning  cloud,  and  as  the  early 
dew,  it  hath  soon  passed  away.  Such  ever  was  the  consequence 
of  unfaithfulness  to  the  discoveries  of  the  pure  light :  weakness, 
revolt,  and  backsliding  have  ensued — and  when  people  have  for- 
saken the  Fountain  of  living  waters  (which  is  open  for  sanclifi- 
cation  and  refreshment,)  all  their  labour  and  inventions  have  been 
as  broken  cisterns,  that  can  hold  no  water;  and  the  latter  end  of 
such,  unless  they  return  and  repent,  will  be  worse  than  their  for- 
mer unenlightened  state.  Bear  with  me,  dear  Friends,  in  this 
freedom ;  my  soul  longs  for  your  help  and  restoration,  that  by 
and  through  you  the  great  Name  maybe  exalted  in  those  islands, 
and  that  part  of  the  Lord's  footstool  may  become  glorious. 

Let,  I  beseech  you,  the  seeming  foremost  rank  amongst  you 
look  closely  to  their  own  steps,  and  consider  carefully,  whether 
they  have  not  by  some  means  contributed  to  the  general  decay 
of  lively  zeal  and  care,  through  their  own  declension  and  luke- 
warmness;  for  it  is  most  certain,  the  faithfulness  or  unfaithful- 
ness, of  this  rank,  hath  a  very  great  influence  over  young  and 
tender  minds,  as  well  as  of  those  who  may  be  more  advanced 
in  years  and  experience,  and  yet  not  void  of  a  secret  relish  for 
heavenly  matters.  Return  therefore.  I  beseech  you,  oh  ye  chiefs 
amongst  the  people,  to  your  first  love,  and  do  your  first  works, 
lest  greater  desolation  ensue,  and  He,  who  walketh  in  the  midst 
of  the  seven  golden  candlesticks,  come  unto  you  quickly, 
and  remove  yours  out  of  its  place  ;  for  why  should  the  can- 
dlestick remain,  when  the  light  and  lustre  of  the  candle  is 
extinguished?  And,  dearly  beloved  Friends  of  the  rising 
generation,  and  ye  in  the  prime  of  life,  suffer  and  receive 


jETAT,  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


393 


the  word  of  exhortation  from  one  who  tenderly  loves  you ; 
remember  your  Creator  and  your  Judge  ;  let  not  the  foolish 
amusements,  or  vain  conversation,  of  this  world  prevail  to  turn 
you  aside  from  your  great  and  everlasting  interest ;  remember 
there  is  not  any  thing  of  this  world  can  lay  tiic  foundation  of 
eternal  peace  ;  it  is  an  earnest,  humble  seeking  after  the  sanc- 
tifying Hand,  and  submission  to  its  virtue,  which  can  alone 
fashion  you  as  vessels  of  honour,  and  fit  you  for  the  heavenly 
kingdom  ;  cherish  the  secret  drawings  of  Divine  love  ;  be  not 
ashamed  of  its  tendering,  restraining  effects  ;  why  should  you 
sell  your  souls  for  a  thing  of  nought  ?  for  such  will  be  the  smiles 
and  frowns  of  this  world  in  a  day  that  is  hastily  approaching. 
Let  not,  therefore,  the  evil  example  of  otiiers,  nor  the  reproach 
of  the  scornful,  prevail  to  your  hurt,  but  retain  the  fear  of  God, 
which  will  keep  the  heart  clean,  and  be  an  excellent  enduring 
treasure,  when  every  thing  else  shall  vanish  as  a  vapour. 

And  it  most  certainly  behooves  you,  Friends,  who  were  na- 
tives of  this  land,  and  have  had  your  education  amongst  us  as 
a  people,  and  been  frequently  directed  to  the  Heavenly  Monitor, 
to  walk  with  great  circumspection ;  ye  are  amongst  a  people 
who  have  been  made  partakers  of  the  like  precious  faith  with 
us,  principally  through  the  immediate  reach  of  a  Divine  Hand. 
Will  not  their  eyes  be  turned  to  look  at  your  conduct,  and  to 
observe  the  fruits  of  your  faith,  by  its  prevalence  in  your  lives 
and  conversation  ?  And  if,  instead  of  the  blessed  fruits  of 
righteousness,  the  contrary  should  appear,  and  your  conduct  be 
the  means  of  stumbling  to  any,  and  evil  liberties  be  pursued  by 
you,  to  your  own  and  others'  hurt ;  to  such  I  testify,  in  the  name 
and  under  an  awful  sense  of  the  authority  of  the  Most  High,  it 
had  been  better  for  them  never  to  have  known  the  way  of  righte- 
ousness. Heavy,  very  heavy,  will  be  the  weight  of  the  compli- 
cated guilt  of  their  own  transgressions,  and  the  transgressions 
of  others  made  worse  by  their  example.  Wo,  from  a  righteous 
and  dreadful  God,  to  those  by  whom  such  offences  come.  I 

make  no  doubt  but  there  are  amongst  you  an  honest  seed,  an 
51 


394 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760. 


afflicted  and  poor  people,  some  of  the  Lord's  poor,  who  retain 
in  some  good  degree,  their  first  love,  and  bewail  the  hurt  of  Zion. 
I  beseech  such,  stand  fast  in  their  own  lots ;  abide  in  the  faith 
and  patience  ;  be  sober,  and  hope  to  the  end  :  though  the  times 
are  gloomy,  the  out-goings  of  the  morning  are  of  God,  and  he 
can,  and  will  in  his  own  time,  cause  the  wilderness  to  become  a 
fruitful  field.  Look  not  too  much  at  the  declension  of  others, 
lest  your  faith  should  fail ;  but  steadfastly  look  to,  and  follow 
on  to  know,  the  Lord  Almighty,  who  remains  for  ever,  and  the 
defection  of  multitudes  can  by  no  means  impair  his  unchange- 
able truth  and  righteousness. 

In  a  sense  of  the  fresh,  extending  of  ancient,  all-sufficient  Help, 
I  most  tenderly  and  affectionately  salute  you.  May  the  scattered 
amongst  you  be  brought  home,  and  the  negligent  be  roused  to 
diligence,  whilst  yet  a  little  day  continues  ;  let  the  tender  breath- 
ings still  remaining  be  cherished,  that  they  may  gather  strength, 
and  enter  with  holy  prevalence  the  ear  of  the  Lord  and  Father  of 
his  people  :  this  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  one  concerned  at  heart 
for  your  restoration,  and  stability  in  righteousness  and  peace  for 
ever. 

Samuel  Fothergill. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  SUSANNA  HATTON.* 

6th  Mo.,  27th,  1760. 

In  some  sense  of  that  sympathy  and  union  which 
renders  the  Church  of  Christ  a  compact  body,  I  tenderly 

*  This  Friend  was  born  at  Grange,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  in  17:20. 
Very  early  in  life,  her  mind  was  brought  under  the  tender  visitation.^  of 
Divine  love,  and  such  was  her  zeal  and  her  love  for  the  Truth,  that  she 
generally  went  many  miles  on  foot  to  attend  meetings,  and  laboured  hard  in 
the  service  of  her  employer  to  make  up  for  the  time  thus  occupied.  In  the 
seventeenth  year  of  her  age,  she  received  a  gift  in  the  ministry,  and  as  one 
planted  by  the  Master's  hand,  so  rapid  was  her  growth  therein,  that,  with 
the  unity  of  her  friends,  she  paid  a  general  visit,  before  she  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  to  Friends  on  the  continent  of  America,  in  company  with 


^TAT.  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


395 


and  affectionately  salute  thee.  I  most  sincerely  wish  thee  a 
good  journey — good  to  thyself  and  so  to  others.  I  cannot  doubt 
of  the  propriety  of  thy  mission  to  that  part  of  the  Lord's  vine- 
yard ;  I  had  ail  evidence  m  myself,  in  solemn  silence,  that  thou 
wert  under  the  Master's  appointment  for  that  service,  and  I 
earnestly  desire  the  wisdom  and  power  of  Truth  may  seal  its 
own  evidence  on  all  thy  labours  ;  and,  dear  friend,  though  I  ap- 
prehend myself  a  younger  brother,  and  now  addressing  myself 
to  one  who  was  in  Christ  before  me,  yet  permit  me  to  offer  to 
thy  thoughts  a  few  sentiments,  which  have  been  sealed  usefully 
on  my  heart. 

First. — It  is  a  most  solemn  and  awful  thing  to  assume  the 
name  of  the  Lord's  ambassador ;  I  believe  thou  considers  it  so. 
Thence  ought  we  also  to  consider  the  high  obligations  we  are 
under  to  receive  from  him,  not  only  his  instructions,  but  our 
credentials. 

Secondly.— These  will  not  be  withheld,  if  we  wait  our 
Master's  time ;  his  sound  will  be  certain,  and  his  discoveries 
clear.  We  shall  not  say,  like  Ahimaaz,  When  I  ran,  there 
was  a  tumult,  but  distinctly  receive  and  deliver  our  Master's 
message,  in  his  own  wisdom  and  spirit. 

Thirdly. — In  all  our  service,  let  us  remember  our  Lord's 
dignity,  and  endeavour  to  maintain  it  according  to  the  propor- 
tion of  strength  vouchsafed,  both  in  purity  of  life,  and  singleness 
to  him,  in  our  ministerial  capacity,  being  empty  without  him, 
and  only  filled  with  his  fulness. 

Ruth  Courtney.  She  was  married  in  1742,  and  for  many  years  had  to  pass 
through  many  outward  difficulties,  as  well  as  inward  exercises  and  trials, 
for  the  cause  and  testimony  she  had  espoused,  and  she  was  favoured  to 
hold  fast  her  integrity  to  the  Truth.  She  travelled  much  as  a  minister  in 
several  parts  of  Great  Britian  and  Ireland.  In  1760,  being  then  a  widow, 
she  embarked  on  a  second  visit  to  America.  She  afterwards  married 
Thomas  Lightfoot,  and  they  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  she  continued 
to  be  a  faithful  labourer  in  the  cause  and  service  of  Truth.  She  was  a 
living  and  powerful  minister,  awful  and  weii^dity  in  prayer,  careful  to  wait 
for  the  fresh  anointing  for  right  qualification.  She  departed  this  life  on 
the  8th  of  5th  Mo.,  1781,  aged  sixty-one,  a  minister  forty-five  years. 


1 


396  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1760- 

Fourthly. — Let  us  learn  to  try  the  spirits,  whether  thev  are 
of  God.    I  have  seen  a  danger  (especially  in  your  sex)  of  being 
taken  by  the  passions  ;  the  passionate  preacher  hath  affected 
the  passionate  hearer ;  both  have  been  in  raptures,  and  neither  i 
of  them  profited-    This  is  a  place  I  would  endeavour  to  guard  ■ 
thee  in,  my  dear  friend,  as  I  am  apprehensive  the  emotions  of  thy 
mind  are  sometimes  strong  and  animated.    Mistake  not  the 
warmth  of  passion  for  the  gospel  authority ;  the  first  is  like  the 
rattling  thunder,  which  frights,  but  never  hurts  ;  the  last  is  like 
the  lightning  from  the  east,  which  illuminates,  and  at  times 
breaks  through  all  opposition,  and  melts  down  every  obstruc- 
tion.   I  know  the  integrity  of  thy  heart,  and,  what  is  infinitely 
better,  our  Father  who  is  in  heaven  also  knows  it,  and  will  not  j 
forget  to  be  gracious  ;  and,  therefore,  with  the  most  unreserved 
freedom,  I  remind  thee  of  these  things.    May  thy  Urim  and 
Thummim  be  with  thy  Holy  One,  whom  thou  didst  prove  at  ' 
Massah,  which  implies  the  hour  of  temptation,  and  with  whom 
thou  didst  strive  at  the  waters  of  Meribah,  or  strife.  Look  care- 
fully to  him  in  all  thy  goings,  so  shall  thou  dip  thy  foot  in  oil, 
when  thou  treadest  on  high  places,  and  the  arms  of  thy  hands 
will  be  strengthened  by  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob.    If  deep  , 
poverty  be  thy  lot,  be  not  disquieted,  neither  pour  forth  thy  | 
complaints  to  any  mortal ;  have  no  confidant,  but  eternal  Help.  ^ 
I  never  knew  deeper  poverty,  nor  more  glorious  riches,  than  in  j 
that  land,  but  I  found  it  safe  to  wear  my  sackcloth  on  my  loins,  ; 
and  put  on  my  best  garments  honestly  and  si^aringly.    Receive  | 
no  obligation  from  that  quarter,  which  thou  can  avoid,  lest  they  | 
say,  "  I  have  requited  her  labour,"  or  make  vain  the  purport  of  ) 
thy  testimony. 

In  the  course  of  thy  passage,  be  courteous  to  all,  unless 
restricted  by  secret  direction  with  respect  to  any  particular, 
which  I  have  found  my  peculiar  duty  in  some  parts.  Let 
not  affability  enervate  thy  mind,  nor  lead  from  the  steady 
stability  attending  the  faithful  minister ;  and  yet  guard  against  ' 


JETAT.  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


397 


a  spirit  which  leads  zealous  people  sometimes  to  say,  "  There  is 
none  righteous,  no  not  one,"  and  therein  to  overlook  the  hidden, 
suffering  seed.  Let  thy  eye  be  in  thy  head,  so  shall  thy  goings 
be  ordered  of  the  Lord,  and  be  attended  with  peace  to  thyself, 
comfort  to  the  living,  and  general  usefulness  to  the  church. 
Be  not  hasty  to  embrace  the  offer  of  any  companion  in  service  ; 
try  their  spirits,  and  feel  the  liberty  of  Truth  in  it.  I  should 
rather  choose  to  take  one  occasionally,  as  way  might  open,  than 
engage  for  any  considerable  journey.  I  think  it  is  still  more 
necessary  to  press  thy  declining  any  companion  from  England 
or  Europe,  who  might  have  a  concern  for  themselves  to  dis- 
charge their  own  duty,  without  regard  to  thine,  and  so  might 
another  be  oppressed  by  thee.  Farewell,  and  may  the  Lord  of 
all  consolation  be  with  thee  in  every  trial,  and  support  thee  by 
his  arm,  enrich  thee  by  his  grace,  replenish  thee  by  his  wisdom, 
and  comfort  thee  by  his  rod  and  staff. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JANE  CROSFIELD. 

Warrington,  6th  Mo.,  28th,  1760. 

I  am  concerned  that  it  so  falls  out  I  cannot  be  at  home 
personally  to  bid  thee  farewell  and  wish  thee  a  good  journey. 
However,  the  travail  of  my  soul  is  for  the  help,  strength,  and 
safetyof  all  our  Heavenly  Father's  children,  that  they  may  be  so 
wisely  conducted  in  all  things,  as  to  know  the  returns  of  peace, 
and  feel  the  unity  of  the  spirit  and  of  the  body. 

If  we  are  little  enough  in  our  own  eyes,  we  shall  know  Di- 
vine strength  in  our  weakness ;  but  when  any  apprehension  of 
our  strength  and  wisdom  possesses  the  mind,  weakness  and  loss 
in  every  respect  ensue.  Thou  hast  my  good  wishes  in  thy  pre- 
sent concern  ;*  it  is,  indeed,  a  weighty  undertaking,  and  re- 
quires a  double  portion  of  the  Spirit  to  go  through.    Let  thy  de- 

•  A  visit  to  Friends  in  America, 


398 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760. 


pendence  be  upon  the  renewings  of  Divine  help,  and  all  thy 
movements  in  the  gospel  spirit.  Seek  after  the  simplicity  of 
Truth,  and  its  littleness.  Thou  art  going  amongst  a  people, 
many  of  whom  have  understanding  hearts,  and  can  discern 
wisely  between  spirit  and  spirit,  between  sound  and  substance  ; 
this  I  mention  for  thy  encouragement,  if  thou  art  single  hearted. 

May  best  wisdom  direct  thee  in  all  thy  steps,  preserve  thee 
solid  in  thy  spirit,  lively  in  thy  ministry,  wise  and  discerning  in 
thy  conduct  towards  all,  and  upright  and  exemplary  in  thy  con- 
versation ! 

S.  F. 

Jane  Crosfield  was  the  daughter  of  James  Rowlandson,  and 
wife  of  George  Crosfield,  of  Preston  Patrick,  in  Westmoreland. 
The  following  notice  of  her  occurs  in  the  journal  of  James 
Gough,  date  1740  : — '•  After  meeting  (at  Height)  I  went  with 
James  Rowlandson's  family  to  his  house  at  Frith.  His  daugh- 
ter Jane  had,  for  a  little  while  past,  appeared  at  times  in  the  pub- 
lic ministry,  in  our  meetings.  So  much  of  tenderness  and  of  in- 
ward fervency  toward  Christ,  the  beloved  of  her  soul,  prevailed 
in  her  as  to  make  deep  and  lively  impressions  on  my  mind." 

She  received  a  gift  in  the  ministry  when  about  twenty-six 
years  of  age  ;  and  in  the  Christian  exercise  of  it  visited  Scot- 
land, North  America,  Ireland  three  times,  and  many  parts  of 
England  several  times  ;  "  She  was  enabled  to  labour  honestly 
"  in  the  line  of  the  gospel  ministry,  and  made  instrumental  to 

"  the  help  and  encouragement  of  many  She  was  often 

"  engaged  in  visiting  the  families  of  Friends,  and  had  consi- 
"  derable  service  therein,  being  qualified  to  administer  close 
"  and  pertinent  counsel  and  advice  to  their  various  states 
"  and  conditions.  In  much  tenderness  and  affection  she 
"  was  anxiously  concerned  to  labour  with  the  rising  genera- 
"  tion,  that  they  might  devote  their  early  days  to  the  Lord's 
"  service,  and  come  up  steadily,  and  at  all  times  and  in  all 
"places,   in   that  plaiimess   and   simplicity   of  dress  and 


;etat.  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


399 


"  address,  into  which  Trutli  ever  leads  its  faithful  followers ; 
"  and  not  yield  a  temporising  conformity  to  the  prevalent 
"  fashions  and  manners  of  the  world,  which  expose  to  many 
"  dangers,  and  tend  to  alienate  the  mind  from  its  best  interests." 

"  Her  conduct  and  conversation  amongst  mankind  well  cor- 
"  responded  with  the  doctrines  which,  as  a  minister  of  Christ, 
"  she  Vv^as  concerned  to  deliver  ;  being  an  exemplary  pattern  of 
"  self-denial,  moderation,  and  Christian  simplicity,  and  much 
"  distinguished  for  her  hospitality  and  openness  of  heart." 

She  departed  this  life  on  the  2d  of  llie  2d  Month,  1784,  aged 
about  71,  a  minister  44  years. 

This  honourable  woman,  the  editor's  grandmother,  is  also 
mentioned  by  John  Woolman,  in  his  journal ;  he  says,  "  Being 
"now  at  George  Crosfield's,  in  the  county  of  Westmore- 
"  land,  I  feel  a  concern  to  commit  to  writing  that  which  to 

"  me  hath  been  a  case  uncommon."   And  again,  "  I 

"  rested  a  few  days,  both  in  body  and  mind,  with  our  friend 
"  Jane  Crosfield,  who  was  once  in  America."  (7th  Month, 
1772.) 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  GILBERT  THOMPSON. 

Warrington,  6th  Mo.,  29tli,  1760. 

Dear  Cousin, 

I  believe  I  should  be  out  of  the  way  of  my  duty,  if  I 
did  not  impart-to  thee  and  thy  sisters  a  dream  or  vision  that 
was  represented  to  me  the  last  night,  and  perhaps  the  interpre- 
tation of  it  may  be  brought  home  to  your  own  hearts. 

I  thought  the  great  day  of  account  was  come,  and  all  nations 
gathered  to  receive  the  irreversible  sentence  ;  I  beheld  a  variety 
of  states,  and  many  clothed  in  different  colours,  many  in  white, 
which,  nevertheless,  was  of  different  degrees  of  lustre  and 
beauty.  I  saw  many  whom  I  knew,  and  amongst  others  thy- 
self and  sisters  ;  1  thought  your  garments  appeared  more  white 


400 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760. 


than  many  ;  and  whilst  I  mused  on  the  tremendous,  yet  glorious 
day,  the  trumpet  sounded  with  a  distinguishing  energy,  and 
seemed  to  sa}^,  Come,  ye  blessed.  I  beheld  multitudes  arise, 
as  from  the  eminence  of  a  mountain,  and  ascend  triumphantly. 
My  eye  descended  to  the  mountain  whence  many  had  risen,  and 
in  whose  company  I  had  seen  thee  and  thy  sisters.  I  thought 
I  clearly  saw  you  remain  on  the  earth,  clothed  in  garments 
measurably  white.  I  queried  in  my  heart,  alas  !  how  happens 
it  that  these  are  left  behind  ?  Immediately  the  white  garments 
fell  off,  and  each  of  you  appeared  in  the  common  dress  in  which 
you  usually  appear.  But  I  beheld  chains  which  seemed  fastened 
about  your  necks,  and  bound  every  limb  and  part  of  the  body 
but  the  head,  and  these  chains  were  fastened  to  great  rings  in 
the  earth,  and  held  you  so  fast  as  to  prevent  any  of  you  ascend- 
ing to  those  who  had  taken  wing  and  risen  on  high.  Here  I 
awaked  in  great  concern  of  mind,  and  found  an  engagement  to 
impart  it  immediately  to  thyself  and  sisters  ;  none  other  knows 
the  least  tittle  of  it,  nor  shall,  from  your  most  affectionate 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  AND  MARY  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  9lh  Mo.,  8th,  1760. 

Though  the  channel  of  personal  and  epistolary  con- 
versation with  you  may  be  at  limes  interrupted  by  other  occa- 
sions, which  abundantly  present  themselves  in  the  course  of 
my  labours  in  the  heritage,  yet  the  best  springs  of  that  love  are 
often  opened  in  my  heart  towards  you  and  yours,  in  which  I 
travail  for  your  preservatiou  in  the  way  of  righteousness,  and 
increase  in  the  saving  knowledge  of  God,  and  his  dear  Son,  the 
redemption  of  his  family  and  people. 

Dear  friends,  this  generation,  and  we  with  it,  are  passing 
away  fast ;  let  us  be  careful  to  leave  good  footsteps  to  the 
next,  that  our  memory  may  be  sweet,  and  our  peace  flow 
as  a  river.    We  have  our  several  probations  to  pass  through, 


J3TAT,  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


401 


and  our  warfare  to  accomplish ;  various  are  the  trials  and  be- 
sciments,  some  constitutional  and  some  adventitious,  so  as  to 
occasion  a  query,  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?  I  beheld  a 
state  to  which  salvation  is  ever  extended ;  and  that  is  true  poverty  : 
"This  poor  man  cried,  and  the  Lord  heard  him,  and  saved  him 
out  of  all  his  troubles."  Oh,  the  excellence  of  this  state  of  poverty, 
and  being  stripped  of  every  human  dependence,  when  all  flesh 
is  silent  before  God,  and  confusion  covers  its  face ;  then,  indeed, 
the  Lord  arises  in  his  holy  habitation,  made  so  by  his  refining 
Spirit.  The  longer  I  live,  the  more  clearly  I  see,  in  emptiness 
is  fulness,  and  that  our  capacity  of  service  is  in  our  deep  sub- 
mission ;  then  will  the  Lord's  arm  awake,  and  lay  hold  on 
strength,  and  fill  the  bow  with  Ephraim. 

My  soul  is  humblingly  relieved  in  the  fresh  and  feeling  sense 
of  His  precious  love  and  life,  who  is  the  strength  and  hope  of 
his  children ;  let  yours  be  broken  down  before  him,  to  be 
searched  and  then  bound  up,  and  the  fresh  renewing  of  cove- 
nant and  holy  zeal  for  his  Truth  become  the  girdle  of  your 
loins.    So  be  it,  0  Father  of  all  the  living,  amen. 

And,  dear  children,  beloved  and  longed  for,  my  prayers  are 
for  you,  and  my  wishes,  as  for  my  own  soul,  that  you  may  ac- 
quaint yourselves  with  the  power  of  an  endless  life,  and  be  mind- 
ful of  your  privilege  in  being  descended  from  a  line  that  Truth 
has  made  honourable,  and  would  bless  you  in  like  manner.  Let 
an  early  remembrance  of  your  Creator  possess  your  minds,  and 
the  cloud  of  witnesses  to  the  glorious  manifestation  of  Truth  in 
the  inward  parts  prevail  with  you  to  join  their  happy  experience ; 
let  the  peaceful,  happy  conclusion  of  your  beloved  sister  be  often 
remembered,  and  the  blessed  means  of  it,  even  her  love  to 
Truth,  and  obedience  to  its  manifestations.  This  led  her  to 
fear  and  love  God,  and  honour  her  parents  ;  they  mourned  for 
her  loss,  but  not  without  hope,  as  she  entered  into  everlasting 
mansions  of  peace.  But  very  diff'erent  is  the  sorrow  of  reli- 
gious parents  which  arises  from  undutiful  conduct  in  children, 
who  pierce  the  parents  with  bitter  sorrow,  and  that  exceedingly 


402 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760. 


aggravated  by  a  reflection  that  such  conduct  is  offensive  to  a 
righteous,  heavenly  Judge,  who  will  plead  the  cause  of  afflicted 
religious  parents  with  their  rebellious  ofl'spring.  May  other 
conduct  from  you  furnish  the  well-grounded  hope  of  a  portion 
with  the  just  of  all  generations. 

At  present  I  enjoy  my  health  more  uninterruptedly  than  for 
some  time  past;  I  have  spent  two  weeks  at  Scarborough,  to 
my  advantage  and  satisfaction  of  mind.  I  propose  setting  out 
to-morrow  towards  the  Circular  Yearly  Meeting  for  the  seven 
western  counties,  to  be  held  in  a  small  town  in  Gloucester- 
shire,* where  are  none  of  our  society. 

S.  F. 

In  the  foregoing  letter,  S.  Fothergill  mentions  a  visit  of  two 
weeks  to  Scarborough.  He  was  accustomed  to  visit  that  place, 
both  for  the  benefit  to  his  health  which  he  derived  from  it,  and 
from  the  stronger  motive  of  religious  duty.  It  was  then  much 
frequented,  during  the  season,  by  many  of  the  nobility  and  higher 
classes ;  amongst  whom  he  was  often  largely  engaged  in  the 
ministry,  they  being  much  in  the  practice  of  coming  to  Friends' 
meetings  on  such  occasions.  In  one  of  his  letters  from  this 
place  he  says — "  I  have  been  mercifully  sustained  by  best 
"  help  to  labour  in  the  gospel  service,  in  several  very  large, 
crowded  meetings,  to  which  many  people  of  distinction  re- 
"  sort.  This  seems  my  principal  business  here,  together  with 
"  some  more  retired  opportunities  amongst  Friends'  families  as 
"  occasions  off'er. 

It  was  during  his  visit  at  this  time  that  the  following  cir- 
cumstance occurred,  as  was  afterwards  related  by  Samuel 
Fothergill  himself  to  some  Friends  who  accompanied  him 
on  his  journey  homewards  from  London.  He  told  them 
that  during  one  of  his  visits  to  Scarborough,  he  observed 
that  Admiral  Tyrrellt  attended  several  meetings  of  Friends 

*  Wootten-under-Edge,  at  least  150  miles  from  his  own  habitation. 

t  Richard    Tyrrell,    an    English    Admiral ;    the    engagement  he 


JV<(?. — Lat  no  onn  siipp^sR  on  mdiig  tliis  mncdnte  Ihat  tlie  Suciety  of  Frirads  would 
coiiniKii  inca  tli:^  belief  tli  il  Ad.ninil  T/ii-hH  did  in  ri;.ility  receive  a  Divine  in'.iniittion,  in:is- 
iiiuch  as  ii  wiiald  li^  oppiiied  to  lln;  express  cuinniand  of  the  I'riUwe  of  Peace — "Jjove  your 
£neiiiiei<^* — Anur.  Pub. 


JBTXT.  44.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


403 


at  that  place  ;  and  he  took  particular  notice  of  the  solemnity 
and  reverence  of  the  adnairal's  behaviour  during  the  meetings, 
especially  in  the  time  of  silence.  One  morning  the  admiral 
came  up  to  Samuel  in  the  public  room,  before  many  of  the 
nobility  and  gentry,  and  said — "  Mr.  Fothergill,  I  have  a  very 
high  opinion  of  your  people's  principles  and  practices,  especially 
the  inwardness  and  spirituality  of  your  silent  worship."  Samuel 
replied — "  Admiral,  I  think  such  a  testimony  from  thee,  as  a 
man  of  war,  rather  extraordinary,  concerning  us  and  our  princi- 
ples, which  are  for  peace,  and  against  all  fighting."  The  other 
answered — "  Sir,  1  am  of  your  opinion  in  that  particular,  and 
fully  believe  that  the  time  will  come,  when  nation  shall  not 
lift  up  sivord  against  nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any 
more  :  but  as  every  dispensation  of  unerring  wisdom  must  have 
a  beginning,  so  this  has  had  one  amongst  you,  but  has  not  yet 
reached  us  ;  and  as  to  what  you  hold  of  a  union  and  commu' 
nion  with  the  Divine  Intelligence,  I  know,  by  happy  experience, 
it  is  attainable  in  this  life  ;  one  instance  of  which  now  occurs 
to  me.  When  I  had  the  honour  of  commanding*  three  of  his 
Majesty's  ships  of  war,  as  commodore,  before  the  late  peace 
was  concluded,  account  was  brought  me  that  five  large  French 
men  of  war  were  bearing  towards  us,  all  superior  to  ours  in  men 
and  guns  :  a  council  of  war  was  called  ;  and  whilst  they  sat,  I 
retired  into  my  cabin  alone  ;  and,  after  getting  into  perfect  still- 
ness, I  heard,  in  the  secret  of  my  mind,  a  voice  as  intelligible 
to  my  understanding  as  any  words  ever  were  to  my  outward 
senses — "  Go,  fight  the  French  fleet,  for  I  have  delivered  them 
into  thy  hand." — I  rose,  reverently  thankful  for  this  Divine  inti- 
mation, and  went  to  the  council,  letting  them  know  that  we 
should  fight  the  French  fleet,  and  that  I  was  sure  of  victory. 
All  was  made  ready,  and  we  engaged  ;  the  event  proved 

mentioned  took  place  in  175S.  In  1763  he  went  out  to  the  West  Indies 
as  commander  of  thg  fleet,  and  died  on  his  passage  home,  in  1765. 


404 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760. 


the  certainty  of  this  gracious  intimation,  we  having  obtained 
a  complete  victory,  as  is  set  forth  in  the  liistory  of  that 
war." 

There  are  some  instructive  remarks  on  this  incident,  by 
John  Barclay,  in  his  "  Select  Anecdotes,"  &c. — London,  1822. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  GURNEY. 

Warrington,  10th  Mo.,  11th,  1760. 

 A  variety  of  engagements  fill  up  my  time ; 

several  journeys  the  last  summer  have  fallen  to  my  lot,  yet  the 
affection  I  bear  to  many  individuals,  thyself  and  dear  wife 
amongst  others,  remains  strong,  though  concealed  in  silence  : 
may  the  holy  flame  of  love  be  maintained,  so  shall  we  be  made 
precious  in  the  sight  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  and  dear  to  his 
family.  Its  most  certain  effect  is  to  purify  the  soul ;  some  have 
received  its  lustre,  and  walked  in  the  speculation  formed  from  its 
light ;  these  fail  of  its  blessed  fruits,  and  lie  down  in  sorrow. 
But  when  the  light  of  Israel  becomes  a  fire,  and  his  Holy  One 
a  flame,  and  our  hearts  truly  subjected  to  its  operation,  our  feet 
will  be  fixed  steadily  in  the  path,  and  our  peace  will  flow  as  a 
river. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HLS  BROTHER  JOHN. 

Warrington,  11th  Mo.,  12lh,  17(30. 
The  secret  emotions  of  tender  affection  to  thee 
and  dear  sister  frequently  and  strongly  bring  you  both  lo 
remembrance  ;  and  when  I  can,  I  pray  for  your  preservation 
and  establishment  in  the  possession  of  every  blessing ;  in 
particular,  of  hearts  clothed  with  a  holy  sensibility  of  Divine 
favour,  and  an  anxious  thirst  of  soul  after  still  more  and 
more  worthiness  ;  for  gracious  remembrance  in  every  needful 
time,  for  such  times  will  come  ;  the  smoothest  passage  is 
often  mercifully  thorny;  and  the  kings  and  priests  of  God's 


iBTAT.  45.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


405 


own  anointing,  when  a  superficial  eye  views  ensigns  of  royalty, 
have  underneath  sackcloth  on  their  loins. 

It  is  never  better  with  me,  than  when  I  descend  to  bring  up 
some  fresh  memorials  from  the  hidden  depths.  Though  tlie 
waves  and  billows  may  at  times  pass  over  my  head,  they  are 
thy  waves,  oh,  Father,  and  I  will  humbly  look  througli  them  all 
towards  thy  holy  temple. 

I  have  thrown  together  some  sentiments  and  remarks,  by 
way  of  reply  to  the  sermon  and  address  I  mentioned  to  thee  in 
my  last ;  as  soon  as  I  can,  after  they  are  transcribed,  1  think  to 
send  them  to  thee,  and  refer  them  to  thy  decision,  whether  to 
destroy  them,  or  lay  them  before  the  Morning  Meeting.  I  think 
I  shall  be  easy  either  way,  though  I  sometimes  think  something 
of  the  kind,  if  well  done,  might  be  useful  in  those  parts,  about 
Lichfield,  where  the  address  and  sermon  is  spread,  and  where 
there  are  very  few  Friends.  I  am  not  fond  of  controversy,  still 
less  of  seing  my  name  in  print,  but  I  was  not  wholly  void  of  an 
apprehension  of  duty. 

The  great  event  of  the  decease  of  the  king  hath  manifestly 
proved  Jacobitism  to  be  at  a  low  ebb  ;  he  is  sincerely  mourned 
for  by  many.  I  was  considering  what  Friends  would  do  on  the 
present  occasion  ;  there  seemed  a  duty  to  the  Society  which 
required  instant  attention,  that  is,  to  caution  against  the  incon- 
sistency of  going  into  mourning.  What  is  done  in  this  respect 
I  know  not.  I  also  thought  the  Society  would  consider  itself 
obliged  to  address  the  successor  ;  I  knew  not  whether  the  Meet- 
ing for  Suflferings  would  undertake  it,  or  defer  it  to  the  Yearly 
Meeting  ;  but  a  letter  just  received  informs  me  that  the  Meet- 
ing for  Sufferings  have  concluded  to  address  the  new  king  ;  in 
which,  may  best  wisdom  guide  you.  Though  I  cannot  help 
you,  I  could  almost  wish  to  be  present  at  your  deliberations. 
As  I  was  musing  a  little  last  night  upon  the  subject,  it  came 
into  my  mind  to  offer  one  paragraph  to  thee ;  if  the  senti- 
ment be  improper,  reject  it,  if  there  be  any  thing  in  it  worth 
a  thought,  thou  knows  how  to  improve  it,  and  give  it  a 


406 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1760. 


proper  turn.  I  know  thou  wilt  make  allowance  for  me  if  a 
warmth  of  heart  surpass  right  judgment. 

S.  F. 

The  suggested  paragraph. — "  May  he  who  touched  the 
"  mind  of  youthful  Solomon,  at  an  age  similar  to  thine,  with 
"  the  love  of  wisdom,  which,  at  his  accession  to  the  throne  of 
"  his  royal  father,  he  asked  of  God,  bless  thee,  0  king,  with  a 
"  wise  and  understanding  heart,  and  add  thereto  riches,  honour, 
"  and  length  of  days." 

N.  B. — I  beheve  Solomon's  vision,  in  Gibeon,  was  in  the 
twenty-third  year  of  his  age,  the  age  of  our  present  king.  If 
the  sentiment  be  too  trifling,  excuse  me,  and  pass  it  by. 

S.  F. 

In  the  preceding  letter,  S.  Fothergill  mentions  some  remarks 
which  he  had  written  upon  a  Sermon  and  an  Address  delivered 
at  Lichfield.  His  remarks  were  afterwards  published,  and  led 
him  into  some  controversy  in  defence  of  the  doctrines  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  on  the  subject  of  Water  Baptism.  His  op- 
ponent was  Edward  Owen,  at  that  time  Rector  of  Warrington, 
and  in  much  reputation  as  a  learned  man,  and  as  an  accomplished 
classical  scholar. 

The  occasion  of  this  controversy  is  thus  described  by  S.  Fo- 
thergill, in  the  introduction  to  his  second  pamphlet  : — 

"  M.  Pilkington,  Prebendary  of  Lichfield,  some  time  ago 
"  published  a  Sermon  on  the  Nature  and  Necessity  of  Water 
"  Baptism,  as  an  indispensable  token  of  the  Christian  Cove- 
"  nant,  &c.  This  he  prefaced  with  an  '  Address  to  the  People 
"  called  Quakers ;'  in  which  he  called  upon  them  to  declare 
"  their  sentiments,  and  pointed  them  out  as  in  a  state  of  exclu- 
"  sion  from  the  covenant  in  Jesus  Christ. 

"  This  induced  me  to  throw  together  a  few  reasons  for  our 
"  dissent :  though  I  enter  into  controversy  with  reluctance,  I 
"  would  not  decline  a  sober  discussion  of  the  things  most  surely 
"  believed  amongst  us  as  a  people. 


jETAT.  45.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  407 

"  This  I  hope  will  be  sufficient  excuse  for  my  remarks  on  the 
"  Prebendary's  arguments  :  I  did  not  begin  the  dispute,  but 
"  attempted  to  speak  our  sentiments  in  our  own  language,  and 
"  remove  the  censures  he  had  passed  upon  us,  as  it  seemed 
"  consistent  with  the  Apostle's  advice,  '  Be  ready  always  to 
"  give  an  answer  to  every  man  that  asketh  you  a  reason  of  the 
"  hope  that  is  in  you,  with  meekness  and  fear,  having  a  good 
"  conscience  ;  that,  whereas  they  speak  evil  of  you  as  of  evil 
"  doers,  they  may  be  ashamed  that  falsely  accuse  your  good 
"conversation  in  Christ.'    1  Peter  iii.  15,  16. 

"  Respecting  the  temper  in  which  I  wrote,  I  have  this  evi- 
"  dence  in  my  own  mind,  that  I  felt  no  sensation  inconsistent 
"  with  the  angelic  song,  '  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on 
"  earth  peace,  good-will  towards  men  !' 

"  An  anonymous  auxiliary  to  M.  P.  anticipates  the  reply  with 
"  what  he  styles,  '  a  temporary  local  antidote  against  the  errors 

"  in  my  pamphlet,'  and  soon  after  a  second  part  is  pub- 

"lished  ;  the  author  no  longer  conceals  his  name,  but  signs,  E. 
"  Owen.  This  pamphlet  engageth  my  present  attention,  as  he 
"  calls  upon  me  to  a  review  of  the  subject  with  this  remark, 
"  '  An  honest  man  owes  so  much  to  his  Creator,  the  world,  and 
"  his  own  conscience,  that  he  ought  either  to  justify  or  retract 
"  his  opinions.'  As  my  opinions  are  not  taken  upon  trust,  nor 
"  merely  the  result  of  education,  but  arise  from  the  evidence  of 
"  what  appears  to  me  to  be  truth,  I  cannot  recede  from  them 
"  without  violence  to  my  understanding  and  conscience  :  I 
"  stand  open  to  conviction,  and  follow  truth  with  suitable  dis- 
"  positions  ;  in  this  pursuit  I  humbly  confide  in  success  and 
"  acceptance  with  an  omniscient  gracious  Judge.  I  must,  there- 
"  fore,  either  be  silent,  or  give  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in 
"  me  :  the  former  seems  a  suppression  of  truth  ;  the  last  I  hope 
"  to  perform  with  decency  and  candour,  it  being  my  principal 
"  design  to  vindicate  the  spiritual  religion  of  the  Holy  Jesus,  and 
"  a  people  who  embrace  it,  though  under  the  discouragement  of 
"  popular  prejudice." 


408 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


{1761. 


The  first  publication  was  entitled,  "  Remarks  on  an  Address 

to  the  people  called  Quakers ;  and  a  Sermon  on  the  nature 
"  and  necessity  of  being  admitted  into  Covenant  with  Christ  by 
"  Baptism  ;  published  by  Matthew  Pilkington,  LL.  B.,  and 
"  Prebendary  of  Lichfield  ;  in  a  Letter  to  the  Author,  by  S. 
"  Fothergill.  To  which  are  added,  a  few  Observations,  by  J. 
"Phipps.    London,  1761." 

This  was  answered  by  a  pamphlet,  in  two  parts,  signed  E. 
Owen  ;  "  The  Necessity  of  Water  Baptism  ;  a  Discourse  occa- 
"  sioned  by  a  pamphlet  lately  published  by  Mr.  Samuel  Fother- 
"  gill,  of  Warrington,  in  defence  of  the  Quaker  notion  of  Bap- 
"  tism."    Liverpool,  1761. 

Some  time  after  this,  S.  Fothergill's  second  publication  ap- 
peared, "  A  Reply  to  a  pamphlet  published,  in  two  parts,  by 
"E.Owen,  entituled.  The  Necessity  of  Water  Baptism;  by 
"  Samuel  Fothergill."    London,  1763. 

Here  the  controversy  ended.  The  subject  was  treated  by  S. 
Fothergill  in  a  clear  manner,  the  arguments  and  proofs  he 
adduced  in  support  of  Friends'  principles  were  close  and  forci- 
ble, and  it  was  admitted,  even  by  those  who  differed  from  him 
in  sentiment,  that  he  had  much  the  best  of  the  argument. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ELLEN  EVANS. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  6th,  1761. 
I  am  much  indebted  to  thee  for  the  tokens  of  thy 
remembrance  of  me,  which  I  have  lately  received  ;  there  is 
room  for  renewed  encouragement  to  seek  after  that  Hand 
which  maketh  fruitful  in  old  age,  even  covers  with  verdure 
and  plenty  all  the  trees  of  the  Lord's  house,  according  to 
their  degrees  of  growth.  I  am  thankful  to  cultivate  my 
acquaintance  with  these  signal  instances  of  the  mercy  and 
power  of  Him  who  is  the  preserver  of  his  people  ;  these  have 
known  him  throughout  all  their  day,  from  their  beginning 
to  advanced  years ;  they  can  commemorate  his  kindness  in 
youth,  his  strength  in  the  meridian  of  life,  and  his  tender 


^TAT.   45.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  409 

regard  when  the  shadows  of  the  evening  approach,  I  observe 
with  pleasure  thy  happy  experience  of  his  regard  ;  may  it  be 
thy  covering  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death ;  and 
may  the  Everlasting  Arms  be  open  to  receive  thee  when  thy 
race  here  is  accomplished  !  I  have  strong  hopes  that  the  ties 
of  nature,  the  example  of  honourable  parents,  their  solicitude, 
the  weight  of  filial  duty,  the  evidence  of  the  beauty  and  useful- 
ness of  religion,  and  the  importance  of  Divine  favour,  will  com- 
bine to  excite  thy  children,  for  whose  welfare  I  am  anxious,  to 
renew  their  diligence  and  care  to  walk  in  that  path,  which  all 
the  generations  of  the  righteous  have  trod,  in  their  way  to  glory 
and  peace.  Not  all  the  wisdom  of  the  world,  nor  the  fallacious 
promises  of  its  favours,  are  able  to  direct  to  this  path ;  the  way- 
faring man,  who  is  on  his  pilgrimage,  in  weakness,  besetments, 
and  poverty,  shall  not  err  in  his  seeking,  though  he  may  be 
accounted  simple  ;  it  is  better  to  be  a  fool  for  Christ's  sake,  than 
wise  in  all  the  wisdom  of  this  world  ! 

I  am,  through  mercy,  preserved  thus  far,  this  winter,  in  a 
tolerable  good  state  of  health,  mostly  about  home,  and  seldom 
idle  ;  peace  is  my  reward,  and  that  is  better  than  all  the  world. 
Dear  Joseph  White  spent  last  week  with  us  ;  he  is  well,  and 
his  Master  is  eminently  with  him  ;  his  bow  abides  in  strength, 
and  his  hands  are  strong  :  the  state  of  the  Church  requires  close 
labour,  and  in  that  is  the  reward  of  the  faithful,  as  when  they 
pour  water  out  of  their  buckets.  Farewell,  dear  friend  ;  I  love 
to  hear  from  thee. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  21st,  1761. 

I  remember  thee  frequently,  with  unabated  affection, 

and  never  more  nearly,  and  with  greater  sympathy,  than  of 

late,  when  one  of  the  bitterest  cups  thou  ever  partook  of 

has  fallen  to  thy  lot.    I  cannot  enlarge  upon  it ;  I  trust  thou 
53 


410 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1761. 


hast  a  secret  resource  to  apply  to  on  this  occasion,  and  may 
the  never-failing  Helper  support  thee  and  thine,  in  this  and  every 
other  probation.  How  greatly  necessary  is  it  for  us  al  to  wait 
diligently,  to  know  our  minds  and  affections  circumscribed  within 
the  holy  limits,  and  an  early  government  over  our  own  spirits  ; 
thus  the  lamb  and  the  lion  can  lie  down  together,  and  an  habi- 
tation of  peace  and  quietude  is  found  in  the  mountain  of  God's 
holiness.  Out  of  this  subjection  of  spirit,  is  ruin  and  conten- 
tion ;  and  though  we  may  detest  imbruing  our  hands  in  blood,  yet 
we  may  destroy  the  hidden,  innocent  life  in  ourselves  or  others. 
May  every  dispensation  instruct  us,  and  may  we  be  like  the 
skilful,  industrious  bee,  who  gathers  honey  from  flowers  of 
almost  every  kind.  I  have  in  vain  attempted  to  express  my 
sympathy  with  thy  dear  wife,  in  a  few  lines  I  enclose  ;  I  wish 
her  every  thing  I  could  petition  Heaven  for,  on  my  own  account, 
m  the  day  of  my  distress.  I  remember  thy  children  very  ten- 
derly, and  scarce  forbear  reminding  them  of  the  striking  instruc- 
tion resulting  to  them  from  their  dear  sister,  who  lived  beloved  of 
God  and  man.  Instructed  by  her  conduct  and  example,  the 
incautious  youth  grew  up  in  piety  and  honour,  learned  how  to 
live,  and  met  the  languishments  of  sickness,  and  the  terrors  of 
death,  with  holy,  humble  fortitude  ;  her  last  days  were  crowned 
with  honour,  and  her  conclusion  was  glorious.  Such  was  her 
happy  translation  to  a  life  exempt  from  sorrow  and  danger,  and 
for  ever  to  drink  the  heavenly  wine  unmixed  in  her  Father's 
kingdom.  An  early  acquaintance  with  the  Lord  of  all  power 
and  goodness,  who  drew  her  by  the  engaging  virtue  of  his  love, 
and  taught  her  to  love  his  judgments,  subjected  her  will,  seasoned 
her  spirit,  and  sanctified  all  to  her.  An  humble,  submissive, 
meek  spirit  rendered  her  amiable  ;  due  regard  to  her  parents 
rendered  her  acceptable,  and  preserved  her  in  righteousness. 
She  knew  the  sting  of  death  to  be  removed,  and  could 
commit  her  lamb-like  spirit  into  the  hands  of  the  Lord  of 
perfection  and  purity.  But,  alas  !  my  heart  is  pained  within 
me,  to  consider  the  opposite  conduct  of  one  united  to  her 


JITAT.  45.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  411 

in  the  natural  alliance  of  a  brother.  I  cannot  pursue  the  sub- 
ject ;  I  need  not ;  you,  dear  children,  are  too  sensible  of  it  to 
need  much  explanation.  Think  not,  I  beseech  you,  especially 
dear  Israel  the  younger,  that  it  is  possible  to  be  safe  any  where 
but  under  the  humbling  hand  of  God.  Let  all  proud,  exalted, 
unmortilied  flesh  tremble,  for  confusion  in  various  forms  at- 
tends it,  in  its  loftiest,  securest  state.  I  most  sincerely  salute 
you  all,  elder  and  younger ;  may  the  blessings  of  the  everlasting 
hills,  whose  foundations  can  never  be  shaken,  rest  upon  you,  is 
the  humble  prayer  of,  dear  friends, 

Yours,  in  tenderest  affection,  S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEMBERTON. 
ON  THE  DEATH  OF  HER  SON. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  20th,  1761. 
I  never  knew  until  lately,  how  near  thou  wast  and 
art  to  my  soul,  though  I  thought  I  ever  placed  thee  amongst 
those  with  whom  I  am  not  merely  united,  but  bound  up  in 
the  bundle  of  life,  in  such  a  covenant  as  will  survive  time, 
mortality,  and  all  its  troubles.  The  exquisite  sympathy  I  feel 
with  thee  is  not  to  be  described  ;  all  language  is  baffled  ;  I  can 
sit  down  with  thee  in  deep  and  solemn  silence,  and  mingle  my 
tears  and  sorrows  with  thine.  I  cannot  attempt  to  suggest  mo- 
tives of  comfort  to  thee  ;  I  believe,  nay,  I  am  assured,  the  Invisible 
Stay  of  all  ages  and  nations  is  not  far  off  to  succour  thee  ;  when 
the  tide  of.  maternal  sorrow  rises  to  the  highest,  he  can  com- 
mand its  noise  to  be  the  voice  of  praise,  and  stay  the  tossed  soul 
upon  himself. 

I  cannot  add  much  ;  my  feelings  exceed  my  utterance ;  I 
know  dear  Israel  is  now  thy  help-meet,  and  sharer  in  affliction. 
May  the  Lord  of  Heaven  regard  you  and  yours,  and  support  in 
the  closest  trial. 

My  wife  joins  with  me  in  tender  aflfection  and  sympathy. 
Dear  Mary,  thy  afflicted  Friend, 

S.  F. 


412 


MEMOIRS  i.ND  LETTERS 


[1761. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ELIZABETH  BAKER* 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  22d,  1761. 

Among  the  many  wishes  of  thy  friends  for  thy  happi- 
ness, none  desires  it  with  more  sincerity  than  myself,  though 
more  silent  about  it  than  some  others ;  and  as  a  testimony  of 
my  concern  for  thy  welfare,  I  sit  down  to  throw  before  thee  a 
few  hints,  which  may  be  useful  to  thee,  if  attended  to,  even  to 
render  thy  life  easy  and  happy,  and  thy  end  honourable  and 
peaceful. 

First  and  principally,  thy  duty  to  the  Almighty  Lord  and  Ma- 
ker of  all  things,  by  whom,  and  through  whom,  all  things  visi- 
ble and  invisible  consist;  the  Author  of  all  blessings.  Let 
him  be  looked  to  and  remembered  by  thee  in  this  light,  and  be 
humbly  engaged  to  seek  his  favour.  Let  nothing  impair  thy 
love  to  him.  He  it  is  that  can  blast  every  pleasing  prospect, 
can  wither  every  hope,  and  also  sanctify  every  affliction.  Be  not 
ashamed  to  show  thy  trust  in  him,  by  humbly  walking  before 
him.  It  is  in  vain  to  expect  a  total  freedom  from  sorrowful  events, 
but  a  great  mercy  to  have  the  Staff  of  Ages  to  lean  upon. 

Secondly ;  thy  duty  to  thy  husband,  who,  if  I  judge  right 
from  his  tenderness  and  affection  to  thee,  will  be  entitled  to 
every  degree  of  a  mutual  return ;  study  his  temper ;  accom- 
modate thy  own  to  it.  I  have  seen  great  inconvenience 
arise  through  inattention,  where  the  wife  hesitates  at  the 
request  of  the  husband,  and  yields  at  last  a  reluctant  obedi- 
ence; this  diminishes  that  tender  affection  which  is  the  life 
and  comfort  of  the  married  state,  gradually  creates  a  dis- 
tance, and  then  life  may  be  uncomfortably  dragged  along, 
but  not  happily  enjoyed.  Cultivate  in  his  mind,  and  in  thy 
own,  every  religious  sentiment ;  strengthen  that  part  as  much 

*  This  letter  was  addressed  to  Elizabeth  Baker,  on  her  marriage  with 
Joshua  Sibson,  of  Lancaster.  She  afterwards  married  Thomas  Whitwell, 
and  died  at  Manchester,  in  3d  Mo.,  1826,  aged  87. 


^TAT.  45.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


413 


as  possible  :  hereby  a  twofold  cord  of  Divine  love  and  natural  af- 
fection will  unite  you  in  a  covenant  never  to  be  broken. 

Third ;  towards  Friends  of  the  meeting  into  which  thou  art 
removing,  let  thy  conduct  be  humble,  affable,  and  exemplary^ 
not  assuming ;  preferring  others,  that  others  may  prefer  thee. 
Humility  is  the  surest  way  to  honour  :  let  no  emulation  to  be 
greater  than  some,  and  equal  to  the  greatest,  ever  be  harboured 
in  thy  breast ;  for  this  will  raise  displeasure,  envy,  and  other 
disagreeable  affections  in  the  minds  of  others.  Let  thy  dress 
be  rather  beneath,  than  on  the  level  with  thy  circumstances ;  it 
will  be  to  thy  reputation. 

Fourth  ;  let  it  become  thy  constant  watch  to  avoid  that  ruin- 
ous practice  of  tattling,  talebearing,  and  secret  reflection.  These 
sources  of  division  and  mischief  are  hateful  to  God  and  man. 
This  character  sets  itself  as  the  object  of  general  contempt ;  its 
hand  is  against  every  one,  and  every  one's  hand  and  heart  will 
be  against  those  who  merit  it.  The  concerns  of  one's  own 
mind  and  family  are  sufficient  to  employ  a  prudent  mind,  with- 
out interfering  unnecessarily  in  the  business  of  others.  Not- 
withstanding this,  sacred  reproof,  where  just,  and  immediately 
addressed  to  the  party,  is  a  beautiful,  useful  part  of  friendship. 

Fifth  ;  let  thy  husband's  relations  become  dear  to  thee  ;  cul- 
tivate every  sentiment  of  friendship  and  affection  for  them,  es- 
pecially for  his  mother,  with  whose  anxieties  a  son  must  sa- 
credly sympathize. 

Excuse,  dear  cousin,  the  freedom  of  these  hints  ;  they  pro- 
ceed not  from  any  painful  apprehension  of  a  contrary  conduct, 
but  my  affection  for  thee  induces  me  to  wish  thou  mayest  be 
found  in  the  way  to  blessing,  even  the  blessing  of  Heaven  above, 
and  of  the  earth  beneath,  the  blessing  of  the  ancient  mountains, 
and  of  the  everlasting  hills.  S.  F. 

In  1761,  S.  Fothergill  attended  the  Northerly  Yearly  Meeting 
held  at  Appleby  ;  the  individual  to  whom  he  addressed  the  fol- 
lowing letter  had  occupied  unseasonably  a  portion  of  the  time 


414 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1761. 


of  the  meeting,  and  caused  uneasiness  in  the  minds  of  Friends 
present.  It  shows  the  care  which  he  extended  towards  his  fel- 
low-labourers, and  ihe  honest  and  faithful  way  in  which  he 
handed  counsel. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JONATHAN  HARRISON.* 

Settle,  4th  Mo.,  18th,  1761. 

I  wanted  a  little  converse  with  thee  at  Appleby,  but  could 
not  see  how  or  where  to  get  an  opportunity ;  which  induces  me 
to  make  use  of  this  method  to  make  a  few  remarks  to  thee,  in 
much  good-will  to  thee  and  the  blessed  cause  of  Truth. 

I  have  been  some  years  conversant  in  the  ministry,  and  not 
unacquainted  with  the  wiles  of  our  common  enemy,  who  seeks 
to  destroy  the  Lord's  work  by  every  stratagem,  and  adapts  his 
snares  to  our  various  states  ;  I  know  it  from  experience  ;  when 
the  living  minister  feels  the  holy  flame  to  be  kindled  in  his 
mind,  then  is  the  time  to  be  very  watchful,  and  humbly  to  wait 
to  distinguish  whether  it  be  not  a  portion  for  himself,  in  order 
to  burn  up  the  hay,  straw,  and  stubble  effectually,  to  purge  and 
render  him  more  and  more  a  true  son  of  life.  Now  if  this  holy 
flame  be  suffered  to  blaze  out  in  the  wandering  uncertainty  of 
even  a  mind  disposed  to  do  some  good,  it  leaves  the  individual 
like  a  cake  half  baked ;  the  work  of  true  religion  unperfected 
in  his  own  mind  ;  and,  consequently,  weak,  and  like  a  novice, 
ready  to  fall  into  the  condemnation  of  the  devil,  who  kept 
not  his  first  estate,  but,  becoming  exalted,  was  cast  down. 
I  have  clearly  seen  his  working  amongst  the  called,  true 
ministers  of  God  ;  thus  to  lead  out  of  the  patient  abode 
under  the  purifying  Hand,  and  into  a  form  of  religion,  and 
promoting  an  inclination  to  labour  any  where,  but  where 
we  ought.  I  confess  I  have  for  some  time  had  a  painful 
jealousy,  lest  after  this  manner  he  should  work  with  thee. 


*  Jonathan  Harrison  died  in  12th  Mo.,  1792. 


jBTAT.  45.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  415 

I  wish  thy  escape,  even  if  thou  art  desperately  wounded,  and 
half  dead.  I  have  feared  thy  branches  are  too  large  for  thy 
root,  and  I  wish  thou  mayest  centre  down  in  thy  mind,  under 
the  forming  Hand,  which  will  be  thy  alone  safety,  and  if  (as  I 
believe  will  certainly  be  the  case)  thou  shouldest  be  reduced  to 
nothing,  and  have  to  begin  again  in  the  littleness  and  simplicity 
of  a  child,  and  die  to  the  present  show,  mayest  thou  in  humility 
submit  to  it,  and  bear  the  turning  of  the  Father's  hand. 

Thou  art  situated  in  a  part  where  too  few  wise  and  judicious 
helpers  are  to  be  found  ;  the  life  of  the  people  seems  to  be  in 
words,  and  the  tempter  works  to  confirm  them  in  their  barren 
state  ;  and  nothing  seems  more  likely  to  bring  this  about  than 
a  noisy,  floating  ministry ;  and  so  the  deceivableness  of  un- 
righteousness works,  in  the  hearer  and  in  the  preacher,  and  the 
blind  lead  the  blind.  0  that  thy  mind  may  be  induced  to  pon- 
der deeply,  in  the  light,  thy  whole  stale,  and  be  stirred  up  to 
wait  for  the  Lord  in  the  way  of  his  judgment — then  wilt  thou 
take  from  the  noise  of  the  harp  ;  but  judgment  will  run  down 
as  a  river,  and  more  inward  peace,  and  right  knowledge  of 
straight  stepping  onwards  towards  the  holy  city,  possess  thy 
mind. 

I  was  exceedingly  distressed  for  thee  at  Appleby  ;  the  more 
sensibly  so,  as  I  am  assured  it  was  my  proper  place  to  have 
appeared  at  that  time  in  prayer  ;  the  door  of  holy,  humble  access 
being  sensibly  and  livingly  set  open  before  me  ;  and  what  added 
to  my  affliction  was,  the  pain  thou  gave  to  sensible  Friends,  by 
thy  justifying  that  appearance,  and  seeming  very  stiff  and  high, 
whereby  thou  hast  greatly  suffered  in  the  esteem  of  the  sensible 
part  of  the  body  of  Friends.  I  must  be  thus  plain  and  honest  to 
acquit  myself;  and  earnestly  request  thee  to  study  to  be  quiet, 
and  mind  thy  own  business,  that  therein  thou  may  be  helped  to 
get  out  of  thy  present  state,  which  appears  to  me  to  be  much 
bewildered,  and  arise  in  the  Lord's  time,  as  his  workmanship, 
formed  to  his  praise,  and  in  the  true  line  of  his  service.  I  am 
not  destitute  of  hope  for  thee  ;  and  may  it  be  confirmed  by  thy 


416 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1761. 


careful  return  to  the  day  of  small  things,  that  thence  thou  may 
be  helped  to  be,  and  to  act,  for  thy  own  peace,  the  Church's 
help,  and  the  Lord's  honour.    Thy  true  well-wisher, 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ANN  PAYTON* 

London,  11th  Mo.,  13lh,  1761. 

My  mind  hath  deeply  partaken  with  thee  and  thy 
children,  upon  the  present  affecting  circumstance,  the  removal 
of  thy  daughter.  The  breach  of  such  a  tender  connexion  can- 
not fail  of  producing  deep  sorrow,  in  a  mind  less  susceptible  of 
tender  impressions  than  thine ;  and  when  we  reflect  upon  the 
amiable,  endearing  qualities  of  deceased  relations,  they  are  as 
additional  motives  to  bemoan  our  loss ;  but  as  they  were  pre- 
pared for  a  resting  place  beyond  the  limits  of  sorrow  and  cala- 
mity, the  inducement  to  grief  may  be  wisely  considered  as  its 
alleviation.  The  debt  of  nature  must  be  paid  ;  we  are  but  so- 
journers in  a  world  of  probation  and  exercise,  and  ought  not  to 
repine  if  it  pleaseth  the  Author  of  all  wisdom  and  mercy  to 
bring  to  a  glorious  rest  by  a  shorter  path  than  a  long  succession 
of  painful,  weary  steps  through  weakness  and  affliction,  that 
often  fill  the  cup  of  advanced  years. 

I  know  there  are  in  the  present  case  circumstances  that 
aggravate  the  loss  ;  a  family  of  young  children  stripped  of 
an  affectionate  mother,  of  a  prudent  Christian  to  instruct 
their  tender  minds  in  the  ways  of  religion  and  virtue,  and 
of  a  good  example  to  walk  before  them,  and  lead  them  in 
the  road  to  happiness.  But  there  is  an  all-sufficient  Hand 
of  power,  able  and  willing  to  guard  and  protect  them  in 
every  state.     And  the  offspring  of  the  righteous  share  in  its 

*  Ann  Payton,  of  Dudley,  died  11th  Mo,  1st,  1774,  aged  91.  Her 
daughter,  here  mentioned,  was  Hannah,  the  wife  of  William  Young,  of 
Leominster ;  she  died  10th  Mo..  30th,  1761. 


^TAT.  46.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  417 

gracious  offers,  in  a  particular  manner.  I  remember,  with  great 
warmth,  some  of  the  last  expressions  of  my  honourable  mother 
to  her  afflicted  husband,  respecting  him,  her  children,  and  her- 
self. "  Thou  wilt  be  blessed,  they  will  be  cared  for,  and  there 
is  a  place  provided  for  ?«e.  They  are  not  left  under  the  tuition 
of  a  father,  like  too  many  now  a  days,  who  will  neglect  their 
true  interests,  but  of  one  who,  knowing  from  whence  every  good 
comes,  will  seek  to  the  gracious,  all-sufficient  Father,  for  him- 
self and  for  his  children."  Thou  hast  largely  partaken  of  afflic- 
tions ;  many  have  been  thy  bitter  cups  ;  and,  this  added,  in  the 
decline  of  life,  must  be  exceedingly  painful.  But  I  beseech 
thee,  dear  friend,  to  remember  who  it  was  that  delivered  in  the 
sixth  trouble,  and  rest  in  humble  hope  that  he  will  not  forsake 
in  the  seventh.  My  brother  and  sister  unite  in  near  sjrmpathy 
with  thee  and  thy  children. 

S.  F. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  26th,  1762. 

A  warmth  of  sincere  affection  and  friendship  is  lively 
and  fresh  upon  my  spirit  towards  thee,  and  every  branch  of  the 
family ;  and  I  think  I  can  safely  and  solemnly  say,  I  have  ac- 
companied thee,  in  thy  deep  distress,  with  sympathy,  and  a  par- 
ticipation of  the  wormwood  and  the  gall ;  a  secret,  silent  par- 
taking witli  thee  and  the  family,  hath  accompanied  me  in  my 
solitude;  I  know  not  how  to  say,  but  I  know  how  to  feel.  I  hope 
the  billows  are  rolled  over  in  a  great  degi-ee  and  the  peaceful 
voice  of  Him  who  rules  the  ocean,  distinctly  heard  to  bound  its 
waves  ;  and  may  the  calming  presence  of  the  Prince  of  Peace 
be  experienced  to  prevail.  O,  the  benefit  of  a  hiding  place 
from  the  storm,  and  protection  in  the  hour  of  severe  conflict. 
The  warm,  animated  sentiments  of  tender  friendship  and 

Christian  fellowship  I  often  feel,  towards  thee  and  thy  husband, 
54 


1 


418  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1762 

tell  me  the  ardour  of  friendship  I  felt  at  our  parting,  about  five 
years  ago,  is  not  abated  ;  a  series  of  employments  of  various 
kinds  have  demanded  my  attention,  and  stopped  the  channel  of 
correspondence  sometimes,  but  not  destroyed  or  impaired  the 
bonds  of  union.  I  am,  through  mercy,  favoured  with  tolerable 
good  health,  employment  in  my  Master's  cause,  and  a  good  de- 
gree of  qualification  is  extended  in  the  needful  time ;  herein  I 
have  cause  to  be  most  humbly  thankful,  that  my  Master  hath 
called  me  into  some  part  of  his  service,  and  furnished  propor- 
tionable peace  and  strength.  My  weakness  is  great,  my  buffet- 
ings  many,  but  the  Lord  is  my  strength,  my  sun,  and  my  shield, 
of  whom  then  shall  I  be  afraid  ? 

I  am  often  solicitous  in  my  mind  about  your  children  ;  I  re- 
member them  with  a  tender  affection,  and  run  from  one  to  an- 
other with  a  degree  of  solicitude,  as  if  I  viewed  a  race  of  youth 
connected  to  me  in  the  ties  of  nearest  natural  alliance.  How 
are  they  ?  are  they  thy  comfort,  as  far  as  religion  and  virtue  in 
offspring  can  be  so  to  anxious  parents'?  Oh,  how  grateful  to 
me,  how  comfortable  to  thee  and  their  dear  father,  how  ho- 
nourable to  themselves  might  they  become,  if  suitably  humbled 
to  seek  and  abide  under  the  fashioning  Hand,  which  alone  makes 
vessels  of  sanctification  and  honour  !  What  becomes  of  dear 
Charley  ?  doth  the  softness  and  delicacy  of  tender  years  remain 
with  him,  and  give  reason  to  hope  advance  in  years  and  piety 
will  be  proportionate  to  each  other?  Salute  them  all  in  my 
name  ;  for  my  heart  and  eyes  overflow  in  strong  petitions  and 
desires  for  every  durable  blessing  to  attend  them,  their  parents, 
and  the  whole  family. 

Perhaps  it  will  be  acceptable  to  thy  husband  to  know  a 
visitation  of  Divine  virtue  hath,  by  its  own  immediate  ope- 
ration, wrought  to  the  conviiicement  of  several  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Bolton,  whence  the  family  of  the  Pembertons, 
I  suppose,  derive  their  origin  ;  and  that  our  Northern  Yearly 
Meeting  for  the  four  counties  of  Chester,  Lancaster,  West- 


I 


JETXT.  46.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


419 


moreland,  and  Cumberland,  is  to  be  held  there  in  the  4th  Month 
next. 

Dear  friend,  thine  in  every  Christian  service, 

S.  F. 

The  Yearly  Meeting,  at  Bolton,  mentioned  in  the  preceding 
letter,  was  large,  and  attended  by  many  valuable  ministers,  and 
a  great  number  of  sober  inquiring  people,  to  whom  much  was 
communicated,  in  gospel  authority,  to  their  comfort  and  instruc- 
tion. From  Bolton,  Samuel  Fothergill,  in  company  with  Ca- 
tharine Pay  ton  and  several  other  Friends,  went  to  the  Yearly 
Meeting  for  Wales,  held  this  year  at  Bala.  This  also  was  a 
large  and  favoured  meeting. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  CATHERINE  PAYTON. 

Warrington,  6lh  Mo.,  1762. 

Few  successive  hours  have  elapsed,  for  several  weeks 
past,  in  which  thou  hast  been  out  of  my  remembrance,  with  the 
affection  and  tenderness  which  accompanies  friendship  of  the 
genuine  kind,  and  earnest  wishes  for  thy  preservation  and  sure 
establishment  upon  the  rock  against  which  the  gates  of  hell  can 
never  prevail.  For  myself  I  pray  for  it,  even  from  the  bottom 
of  my  soul,  for  I  never  had  greater  need.  It  is  a  comfort,  when 
we  are  encouraged  to  remember  the  sufficiency  and  unchangea- 
bleness  of  the  universal  Father,  who  views  us  in  every  probation, 
and  compassionately  regards  us,  when  destitute  of  every  other 
helper,  and  perhaps  receiving  the  bitter  cup,  when  we  might 
hope  for  some  alleviation  of  sorrow  ;  but  what  shall  we  say  of 
the  Lord  Almighty,  but  just  and  true  are  all  his  ways?  and  what 
of  ourselves,  but  unto  us  belongs  blushing  and  confusion  of  face. 
I  was  by  no  means  unmindful  of  thee  in  my  return  from  Lon- 
don, nor  was   out  of  my  thoughts  :  two  reasons  hasten- 
ed me  home — one,  my  wife's  indispoiiition,  the  other,  a  want  of 
that  evidence  of  duty  which  was  in  measure  necessary  to  en- 


420 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1762 


courage  me  to  appoint  a  meeting.  Indeed,  such  has  been  the 
situation  of  my  mind  as  sometimes  to  induce  me  to  cry  in  secret, 
with  holy  Job — "  My  days  are  extinct,  the  graves  are  ready  for 
me."  For  some  beneficial  end  hath  a  series  of  hidden  distress 
attended  me  ;  I  only  beg  it  may  promote  my  sanctification. 

I  was  pleased  to  meet  thy  brother  in  London  ;  I  hope  his 
mind  is  rightly  baptized,  at  times,  for  his  own  and  the  Society's 
help ;  may  he  be  blessed  with  sedate  stability,  and  produce 
in  patience,  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness  Sev- 
eral persons  have  come  to  our  meetings  since  the  meeting  at 
Bolton,  and  from  some  account  several  are  fully  convinced,  and 
would  sit  down  with  Friends  if  there  was  any  meeting  there- 
abouts. The  like  account  I  had  from  Bala,  by  a  tender  spirited 
young  man,  who  called  upon  me  a  few  days  ago  ;  thus,  I  verily 
believe,  the  Lord's  work  is  going  forward.  O  may  it  possess 
the  gates  of  his  enemies,  and  effectually  lay  waste  as  well  as 
smite  all  the  corners  of  Moab. 

S.  F. 

The  Yearly  Meeting  held  in  London,  in  1760,  had  appoint- 
ed a  committee  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  Quarterly  and  other  Meet- 
ings throughout  the  nation.  Samuel  Fothergill  was  one  of  that 
committee,  and  upon  him,  with  Jonathan  Raine,  Isaac  Wilson, 
and  William  Rathbone,  devolved,  in  1762,  the  important  duty 
of  performing  this  service  in  Ireland.  They  embarked  in  the 
eighth  Month,  and  were  closely  engaged,  for  nearly  three 
months,  in  a  general  visit  to  the  meetings  for  worship  and  dis- 
cipline throughout  that  country. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

At  Robert  Lecky's,  Kilnock,  10th  Mo.,  1762. 

  Being  detained  a  week  later  than  we 

expected  in  England,  hath  rendered.it  necessary  for  us  to 


^TAT.  46.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


421 


be  at  meeting  or  on  horseback,  and  frequently  both,  every  day, 
except  two,  for  fifty  days  successively,  in  order  to  finish  our 
visit  before  the  National  Meeting  in  Dublin.  However,  we  have 
occasion  to  confess,  with  thankful  hearts,  that  hitherto  we  have 
been  remarkably  and  eminently  helped  to  prosecute  the  object 
of  our  journey,  and  help  every  way  hath  been  graciously  ex- 
tended to  us,  and  health  also,  in  such  a  degree  as  to  render  the 
journey  practicable  (though  at  times  painful)  to  me  ;  the  other 

friends  are  well  

The  state  of  the  Church  is  painful  in  many  places  ;  I  think 
there  is  not  a  great  decrease  of  number  since  I  was  first  here, 
eighteen  years  ago,  but  most  .of  the  valuable  ministers  and 
elders  are  gone  off  the  stage,  and  few,  very  few,  are  raised  to 
fill  their  places,  or  even  attempt  it.  But  it  hath  been  a  renewed 
and  eminent  visitation  of  Divine  favour,  from  which  I  hope 
some  effectual  service  will  accrue  to  individuals,  if  not  to  the 
general.  Our  labour  hath  been  close,  searching,  and  salutary, 
and,  in  the  precious  unction  of  Divine  love,  at  once  to  inform 
the  judgment,  and  reach  the  oppressed  seed.  The  living  have 
unity  with  us,  and  the  more  distant  part  of  the  Society  seem  to 
approve  of  our  labour,  and  see  its  intention  and  tendency.  May 
the  Lord  of  the  heritage  arise,  and  have  mercy  upon  it. 

Dubhn,  lOlh  Mo.,  9th. — We  arrived  here  this  evening  ;  yes- 
terday, was  the  Monthly  Meeting  at  Carlow,  which  was  very 
large,  and  a  time,  I  hope,  never  to  be  forgotten  by  many  be- 
sides myself.  We  came  to  worthy  Abraham  Shacklelon's  last 
night ;  he  met  us  at  Carlow,  and  I  hope  will  accompany  us  on 
our  whole  visit.  The  Monthly  Meeting  for  this  city  is  to  be 
held  to-morrow,  and  is  likely  to  be  very  large.  I  quietly  hope 
in  His  aid  who  hath  hitherto  been  our  gracious  helper. 

A  copy  of  Friends'  address  to  the  King  was  put  into  my  hand 
this  evening  ;  it  is  pleasing  to  Friends  here,  and  I  think  it  a  good 
one,  but  hope  Friends  will  be  cautious  of  making  our  incense 
to  the  throne  too  cheap. 

S.  F. 


423  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1762. 

Except  the  foregoing,  there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  letter 
extant,  written  during  tliis  visit  to  Ireland  ;  but  of  the  latter  part 
of  it,  and  of  the  labours  of  Sannuel  Fothergill  in  particular, 
an  account  was  drawn  up  by  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Richard 
Shackleton,  of  Ballitorc,  an  abridgment  of  which  is  here  in- 
serted. 

1762,  lOlh  Mo.,  8th.— Our  friend  Samuel  Fothergill,  with 
others,  visited  the  Monthly  Meeting  held  at  Carlow.  In  the 
meeting  for  worship  he  was  largely  engaged  in  testimony,  setting 
forth  the  doctrines  of  Chrislianit}',  and  the  foundation  of  it,  at 
much  length,  for  the  information  of  those  differing  in  name  from 
us  (for  true  religion  is  the  same  in  all ;)  saying,  that  as  we 
were  a  people  who  almost  everywhere  had  been  spoken 
against,  sometimes  through  ignorance,  and  sometimes,  he  was 
afraid,  through  malevolence,  he  was  willing  to  inform  them 
what  principles  we  held,  and  what  our  belief  was  concern- 
ing the  fundamentals  of  Christianity ;  and  that  it  was  not 
being  men  of  literature,  nor  of  any  natural  or  acquired  ability 
as  men  and  creatures,  that  could  procure  to  us  that  substantial 
rehgion  that  would  stand  by  us  beyond  the  grave,  by  assisting  us 
to  renounce  the  devil  and  all  his  works,  the  pomps  and  vanities  of 
this  wicked  world  ;  but  our  humbly  depending  upon  that  suffi- 
ciency which  is  of  God  :  he  said  he  was  sensible,  that 

many  were  prevented  from  coming  to  partake  of  the  inestimable 
blessing  of  peace  and  serenity  of  soul  by  that  monster,  shame,  so 
that  they  cannot  bear  ridicule  from  their  acquaintance,  which 
must  be  their  lot  if  they  are  bent  to  live  a  Christian  life  ;  but  the 
cross  being  as  foolishness,  and  a  stone  of  stumbling,  men  remain 
in  darkness  and  ignorance,  and  answer  not  the  end  of  their  crea- 
tion, and  are  prevented  from  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  Him 
who  has  called  us  to  glory  and  to  virtue  :  this,  he  acknowledged, 
had  been  the  case  with  himself  in  the  early  part  of  his  life, 
when  he  lived  in  as  loose  and  forgetful  a  manner  as  perhaps 
any  present,  though  often  convicted  in  the  secret  of  his  soul 
for  his  folly  ;  but  shame  would  not  allow  him  to  submit  to  be 


jETat.  45.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


423 


accounted  a  fool,  for  he  had  extended  pretty  far  in  notion  and 
speculation,  and  endeavoured  to  procure  some  knowledge  in 
literature,  but  was  made  sensible  it  would  avail  nothing  in  that 
which  pertains  to  life  and  godliness,  through  the  knowledge  of 
Him  who  has  called  ns  to  glory  and  virtue  ;  and  as  destruction 
from  God  was  a  terror  to  him,  because  of  his  highness  and 
majesty,  he  could  not  endure,  he  was  enabled  in  measure  to 
conquer  this  shame,  and  submit  to  that  power  that  could  cleanse 
his  heart,  for  which  unmerited  favour,  all  within  him  worshipped 
and  praised  Him  that  lives  for  ever  ;  and  having  happily  expe- 
rienced the  advantage  of  joining  with  wisdom's  call,  he  was 
earnest  in  inviting  others  to  join  with  it ;  for  wisdom  has  ex- 
tended and  builded  her  house,  and  hewn  her  seven  pillars,  which 
he  compared  to  the  virtues  to  which  the  apostle  exhorts  and 
calls  the  believers,  when  he  says.  Add  to  your  faith  virtue,  &c. ; 
and  if  we  come  thus  to  obey  the  call  of  wisdom,  we  shall  dwell 
in  a  quiet  habitation,  in  a  covert  from  the  storm  in  times  of  trial, 
when  afflictions  roll  upon  us,  for  these  we  must  expect  on  this 
side  the  grave.  He  addressed  himself  particularly  to  those  of 
our  own  profession,  and  much  desired  that  we  might  be  as 
lights  in  the  world. 

The  meeting  for  worship  being  over,  he  with  courtesy  acknow- 
ledged the  favour  done  to  us  by  those  of  other  societies  giving 
us  their  company,  and  their  having  behaved  in  so  becoming  a 
manner,  and  informed  them  that  as  we  had  now  some  particulars 
to  inquire  into  relative  to  our  own  Society  only,  he  requested 
that  those  who  were  not  of  us,  would,  without  taking  offence, 
be  pleased  to  withdraw,  excepting  that  those  who  had  at  any 
time  been  members  amongst  us  might  remain  on  this  particular 
occasion,  so  that  they  w^ere  not  of  scandalous  lives,  or  noto- 
riously bad.  Afterwards,  he  described  the  nature  of  their  visit; 
that  they  came  not  as  severe  censurers  or  rigid  inquisitors, 
neither  to  lord  it  over  the  heritage  ;  but  in  love,  and  in  order  to 
help  and  assist ;  and  gave  a  close  caution  that  such  overseers  as 
were  to  answer  the  queries,  should  consider  well  what  they  were 


424 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1762. 


going  about,  and  give  such  answers  as  were  just,  adding,  that 
those  in  such  offices  ought  to  men  of  truth. 

The  first  query  being  read,  and  an  answer  given  by  one 
from  each  meeting,  he  spoke  upon  it  in  his  usual  powerful 
manner,  showing  the  necessity  of  the  great  duty  of  attending 
meetings  for  the  worship  of  that  Bemg  to  whom  we  owe  all, 
in  order  to  have  our  strength  renewed  in  Him,  and  if  we  were 
concerned  thus  to  wait  for  it,  we  should  not  let  trivial  things 
prevent  our  attendance  ;  and  our  conduct  and  behaviour  when 
there  would  be  becoming,  and  if  the  spirit  of  heaviness  came 
over  us,  we  should  labour  diligently  to  overcome  it.  But  some 
men  he  thought  there  were,  too  big  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate, 
and  too  great  to  be  religious  ;  and  others  too  lazy  to  walk  in 
the  narrow  way  ;  but  such  are  far  from  the  little  child's  state,  of 
whom  is  the  kingdom.  He  enlarged  upon  the  love  and  unity 
which  ought  to  subsist  between  brethren,  and  how  cautious 
they  ought  to  be  of  saying  anything  detracting  one  of  another 
— of  saying,  "  Report,"  say  they,  "  and  we  will  report  it ;"  and 
how  great  ought  to  be  the  care  on  the  minds  of  Friends,  lest 
at  any  time  they  should  be  led  to  speak  in  any  way  to  lessen 
any  elder,  minister,  or  overseer,  or  any  others,  before  their 
children,  and  of  what  hurtful  consequence  such  a  conduct 
might  be  to  the  youth,  in  fixing  prejudices  in  their  minds  that 
could  not  be  easily  removed  ;  so  he  would  have  Friends  keep 
to  that  wisdom  which  is  from  above,  and  then  that  implacable 
disposition  would  be  removed,  which  insists  upon  whatever 
it  thinks  right,  saying,  "  I  will  have  rigid  justice  ;  I  will  be 
paid  to  the  uttermost  farthing  ;"  and  not  giving  up  anything 
for  peace'  sake.  He  much  desired  that  all  such  feelings 
might  not  have  any  place,  and  that  none  might  give  way  to 
such  a  spirit  of  resentment,  but  be  willing  to  suffer,  and  be 
losers,  rather  than  to  contend  ;  this  was  the  true  way  to  live 
in  peace.  To  enforce  this,  he  mentioned  an  instance  of  two 
persons  between  whom  a  strong  friendship  had  existed,  but 
a  misunderstanding  arose,  and  was  carried  to  a  great  length ; 


iBTAT.  46.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


425 


it  continued  some  years,  till  at  last,  he  who  thought  himself  the 
injured  person,  and  who  was  the  accused,  to  the  hurt  of  his 
character,  went  to  the  other  party,  who  was  in  much  heat,  and 
said,  "  My  innocence  supports  me  ;  take  it  to  thyself ;  I  will 
leave  the  decision  to  the  great  day ;  let  the  j-ast  Judge  decide 
between  us,  only  let  there  be  peace  between  thee  and  me." 
This  so  melted  the  heart  of  the  party  addressed,  that  he  said, 
there  should  be  no  difference  between  them ;  and  from  that  time 
peace  was  restored,  and  a  true  friendship,  which  continued  to 
the  end  of  their  lives. 

He  expressed  an  earnest  desire  that  parents,  and  such  as 
have  the  charge  of  children  and  their  education,  might  endea- 
vour, by  example  and  precept,  to  train  them  up  in  a  godly  con- 
versation, and  prevent  them  conforming  to  the  world  and  its 
customs,  but  have  them  kept  in  a  plainness  of  speech  and 
deportment,  out  of  superfluity  in  dress,  which  would  be  a 
means  of  preserving  them  out  of  unsuitable  company,  to  which 
a  conformity  to  the  fashions  and  customs  of  the  world  would 
much  subject  them. 

He  earnestly  exhorted  the  rising  youth  not  to  give  way  to  the 
foolish  customs  of  the  world,  nor  to  let  their  minds  be  entan 
gled  by  such  things.  He  said,  he  could  well  remember  the 
tender  care  of  one  of  the  best  of  fathers,  when  he  would  take 
one  child  on  one  knee,  and  another  upon  the  other,  with  others 
standing  before  him,  how  he  bestowed  upon  them  his  tender 
and  suitable  counsel,  and  though  he  could  not  recollect  the 
words,  he  could  well  remember  the  tears  that  fell  from  the  cheeks 
of  his  venerable  father  upon  theirs.  He  was  much  concerned 
that  the  elder  branches  of  families  of  children  should  help  their 
religious  parents  in  taking  care  of  the  younger,  by  example  and 
by  precept,  and  mentioned  an  instance  of  care  in  one  nearly 
related  to  him;  what  concern  he  had  for  those  who  were  younger, 
and  how  he  laboured  for  their  good  ;  and  after  finishing  his  la- 
bours, how  that  worthy  youth  was  called  to  give  up  his  charge, 

and  enter  into  that  rest  prepared  for  him,  and  finished  his  course 
65 


426 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1762. 


about  the  12th  year  of  his  age.*  He  would  have  all  be  encou- 
raged to  go  on  in  a  godly  conversation,  and  shun  destructive 
pride  in  all  its  appearances,  for  it  is  grounded  in  ignorance,  and 
the  want  of  a  right  knowledge  and  due  consideration  of  what 
we  are — poor  dust  and  ashes.  Some  parents,  he  believed, 
were  careful  to  provide  for  their  families,  and  to  teach  them  fru- 
gality, &c.,  but  he  would  recommend  them  to  be  also  frugal  of 
time,  which  is  so  precious  that  few  know  its  value  until  it  is 
too  late.  This  he  illustrated,  by  relating  the  case  of  a  young 
man  whom  he  had  been  with,  at  or  near  the  time  of  his  being 
called  to  give  an  account  of  how  he  had  spent  his  days,  and 
who  would  then  have  given  all  he  was  worth  in  the  world,  and 
he  had  large  possessions,  to  have  had  a  short  time  allowed  him  ; 
so  well  did  he  know,  at  that  trying  moment,  the  value  of  time, 
which  but  a  few  days  before  he  had  been  insensible  of.  He 
wished  the  youth  might  prize  it,  (for  time  is  short,  and  death  is 
awful,)  and  that  parents  might  not  only  be  diligent  in  making 
a  good  use  of  it,  but  also  teach  their  children  to  be  frugal  of 
that,  as  well  as  of  their  outward  substance,  and  so  to  endeavour 
to  conduct  themselves,  that  when  inquisition  is  made  for  blood, 
they  may  stand  clear  before  the  just  Judge. 

He  spoke  of  Friends  being  just  in  their  dealings,  and  punctual 
in  fulfilling  their  engagements.  He  thought  that  justice  extend- 
ed farther  than  many  apprehended ;  and  cautioned  the  young 
men  that  they  ought  to  be  punctual  in  their  engagements,  and 
not,  as  too  many  do,  ungenerously  endeavour  to  draw  out.  or 
engage  the  affections  of  young  women,  without  having  serious 
intentions  towards  them — this  he  accounted  robbery.  Concerning 
the  care  that  should  be  taken  to  prevent  young  people  joining  in 
marriage  contrary  to  our  rules,  he  spoke  persuasively  to  the 
youth,  exhorting  them  in  all  such  engagements  to  seek  for  the 
counsel  of  best  Wisdom,  and  to  follow  its  instructions,  and 
to  endeavour  to  have  the  best  Guest  present  with  them;  to 


*  His  brother,  William  Fothergill. 


jETAT.  46.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


427 


invite  him,  so  that  he  might  cause  the  water,  which  might  some- 
times be  as  the  bitter  waters  of  Marah,  to  be  turned  into  wine,  and 
sweeten  the  bitter  cups  of  affliction  that  might  be  their  lots, 
through  the  various  changes  of  hfe  ;  and  thus  to  begin,  he  con- 
sidered was  the  way  to  lay  a  foundation  for  social  comfort  and 
domestic  happiness. 

He  spoke  of  the  concern  which  had  been  upon  his  mind  for 
several  years  past  to  pay  a  visit  to  this  nation  ;  and  now,  as 
they  went  along  from  place  to  place,  they  had  seen  the  situation 
of  the  various  ranks  amongst  us,  and  they  had  beheld  with 
sorrow  tliat  too  generally  we  had  not  come  forward,  as  it  was 
intended  we  should — neither  the  elders,  the  middle-aged,  nor 
the  youth.  But  still  there  was  a  living  seed  left,  who  were  in 
measure  preserved  clean  ;  and  although  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
had  moved  to  the  threshold  of  the  door,  and  to  the  mountain 
hard  by,  yet  it  was  not  wholly  departed  from  us,  but  the  shout 
of  a  King  was  still  amongst  us,  and  we  were  not  forsaken  ;  and 
for  this  his  heart  was  made  thankful. 

10th  Mo.,  12th. — AtEdenbury,  in  the  Meeting  of  Discipline, 
he  again  enlarged  on  the  education  of  youth,  and  how  parents 
ought,  by  example  and  precept,  to  train  up  their  children  in  a 
godly  conversation,  and  what  an  indispensable  duty  it  is,  espe- 
cially upon  mothers,  who  have  frequent  opportunities  to  form 
the  minds  of  their  children,  while  the  father  might  be  engaged 
in  ihe  arduous  duties  of  business  abroad  ;  and  mentioned  the 
great  pains  taken  by  the  benighted  inhabitants  of  this  nation  to 
instruct  their  children  in  superstition ;  and  that  we,  who  are 
called  from  darkness  to  light  should  not  be  destitute  of  the  form 
and  power,  but  be  diligent,  by  example  and  precept,  to  train 
them  up  in  a  godly  conversation  ;  also  in  preventing  destruc- 
tive books  from  being  read,  and  laid  before  the  youth,  the 
nature  and  evil  tendency  of  reading  such  books  ;  as  also  of 
following  the  fantastic  fashions  that  are  in  the  world — such 
things  introduce  into  improper  company,  and  the  friendship 
of  the  world ;  and  too  many  parents  he  was  sensible,  were 


i 


428  MKMOIKS  AND  LETTERS  [1762. 

negligent  in  the  proper  care  of  their  children  in  education,  though 
very  assiduous  in  providing  things  for  the  body  ;  he  owned  the 
nearness  of  the  connexion,  and  the  justice  of  such  care,  but  he  would  | 
that  such  should  remember,  that  as  they  were  instrumental  in  j 
bringing  them  into  life,  they  should  be  so  also  in  nursing  that  part  j 
in  them  that  is  immortal,  and  keeping  it  from  being  hurt  or  I 
killed ;  but  instead  of  this,  some  conclude  that  they  provide  •! 
well  for  their  offspring  when  they  settle  them  well  in  the  ; 
world,  build  their  nests  on  high,   above  the  reach  of  those  | 
difficulties  to  which  many  are  subject,  make  their  sons  great  i 
men  of  the  earth,  form  rich  connexions  for  their  daughters,  i 
but  as  to  a  godly  conversation,  let  them  look  to  that  them-  ' 
selves,  and  are  ready  to  bring  the  words  of  Scripture  to  jus-  j 
tify  their  conduct — that  he  is  worse  than  an  infidel  that  does 
not  provide  for  his  family — not  enough  considering  how  far 
that  extends.     But  to  such  earthly-minded  parents  as  are 
adding  house  to  house,  and  field  to  field,  he  spoke  closely,  and 
said  he  had  seen  such  disappointed  in  their  designs ;  and  a 
blast  from  heaven  had  often  attended  them  ;  and  that  perhaps 
some  there  might  live  to  see  it,  and  he  was  ready  to  say  would  I 
feel  it — live  to  see  themselves  disappointed,  surrounded  with 
confusion,  anxiety,  and  paleness  of  face,  deserted  of  heaven 
and  earth.    He  mentioned  his  knowledge  of  an  instance  of  Al- 
mighty justice  in  one  who  had  been  visited  when  young,  was  an  < 
officer  in  the  Chnrch,  and  likely  to  made  an  instrument  of  use,  | 
had  he  been  content  with  what  was  allotted  him,  and  kept  faith-  j 
ful  to  that  which  had  visited  him  ;  but  aspiring  to  be  something  { 
in  the  world,  he  launched  out  beyond  what  he  could  compass, 
and  having  neglected  what  was  committed  to  his  care,  a  blight  ^ 
came  over  him,  one  sorrow  and  disappointment  after  another,  so 
that  he  became  darkened  and  wretched,  and  when  near  his 
close,  he  went  to  see  him,  to  try  if  he  could  feel  any  thing  , 
near  him  that  was  good  ;  but  he  found  darkness  and  hor-  I 
ror,  and  heard  him  cry  out — That  if  he  had  been  the  Lord's  j 
freeman,  he  should  not  have  been  man's  prisoner,  but  he  ! 


jETAT.  46.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  429 

was  then  deserted  of  heaven  and  earth,  of  God  and  man,  and 
and  give  a  shriek  that  pierced  the  hearts  of  those  who  heard  it, 
and  so  departed  out  of  this  Ufe.  This  he  said  deeply  affected 
his  mind,  both  at  the  lime,  and  as  often  as  he  thought  of  it  since, 
and  he  ardently  desired  of  God,  that  he  might  be  preserved  and 
enabled  to  do  his  duty  faithfully,  and  be  clear  of  the  blood  of 
all  men. 

He  spoke  on  the  subject  of  tithes,  that  the  priesthood  which 
was  to  be  maintained  by  them  was  abrogated  by  the  coming  of 
Christ,  who  was  the  minister  of  the  sanctuary  and  true  taber- 
nacle which  God  hath  pitched  and  not  man  ;  and  said  he  be- 
lieved that  if  he  should  actually  pay  towards  maintaining  a  hire- 
ling ministry,  he  should  forfeit  his  interest  in  him. 

He  spoke  tenderly  to  the  rising  youth,  to  persuade  them 
against  spending  their  precious  time  in  diversions  ;  and  expa- 
tiated upon  the  superior  advantages  of  going  to  the  house  of 
mourning  rather  than  to  the  house  of  mirth,  and  advised  that 
they  should  accustom  themselves  to  visit  the  sick  and  distressed, 
to  witness  the  trials  of  the  sick  room,  and  the  anxieties  of  the 
death-bed,  which  would  be  far  more  instructive  than  attending 
places  of  diversion,  as  by  the  sadness  of  the  countenance  the  heart 
is  sometimes  made  better.  He  was  also  earnest  in  his  desires 
that  the  youth  might  be  prudent  concerning  entering  into  the 
married  state,  that  they  should  not  hastily  nor  inconsiderately 
rush  into  it,  and  so  bring  sorrow  for  the  rest  of  their  days  ;  this, 
he  thought,  often  led  to  a  wretched  dragging  on  of  human  life  ; 
but  to  be  tenderly  connected  together  in  the  covenant  of  life, 
was  the  true  way  to  have  domestic  happiness  and  social  com- 
fort, and  to  be  enabled  to  bear  the  variety  of  trials  which  are 
met  with  as  we  pass  through  this  land  of  uncertainty,  chequered 
with  good  and  evil. 

10th  Mo.,  13th. — In  the  Select  Meeting  he  spoke  of  a  state 
which  seemed  much  to  prevail  amongst  Friends  in  this  nation, 
even  as  amongst  the  royal  tribe  of  Judah  ;  a  complaint  that  the 
strength  of  the  bearers  of  burdens  was  ready  to  fail,  because 


430 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1762. 


there  is  so  much  rubbish ;  but  he  recommended  such  not  to 
give  way  to  ineffectual  bemoaning,  but  rather  to  be  willing  to 
rise  up  and  work,  to  repair  the  breaches,  and  rebuild  the  walls, 
and  they  would  find  that  the  King  would  be  with  them,  and 
amongst  them,  to  help,  and  they  would  be  furnished  with  a 
weapon  of  war  in  one  hand,  and  an  implement  with  which  to 
work  in  another  ;  so  he  desired  such  might  not  be  discouraged, 
nor  give  way  to  lamentation  over  the  state  of  the  Church,  with- 
out endeavouring  to  labour  for  its  help. 

In  the  Province  Meeting  he  was  led  to  speak  of  many  ex- 
cellent things.  He  reminded  us  of  our  deep  obligations  to  a 
merciful,  all-wise  Providence,  who  had  so  wonderfully  sheltered 
us  from  the  devouring  jaws  of  war  and  distress  of  various  kinds, 
which  others  had  so  deeply  fell,  and  put  the  question  formerly 
used,  "  Or  those  eighteen  upon  whom  the  lower  in  Siloam 
"  fell,  and  slew  them  ;  think  ye  that  they  were  sinners  above 
"  all  men  that  dwelt  in  Jerusalem  ?  I  tell  you,  Nay,  but  ex- 
"  cept  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perisli."  He  wished  us 
to  be  humbled,  and  endeavour  to  answer  the  end  of  so  great 
mercy.  He  endeavoured  to  disengage  the  minds  of  the  people 
from  having  a  dependence  on  mortals,  even  upon  those  who 
might  have  laboured  faithfully,  as  the  Apostle  did  ;  the  minds 
of  the  people  are  too  apt  to  be  drawn  after  that  which  is  visible, 
so  as  to  be  ready  to  worship  that  which  is  not  good  :  one  says, 
I  am  of  Paul  ;  another,  I  am  of  Apollos  ;  so,  Satan,  knowing 
their  weakness,  disputed  with  the  Archangel  about  the  body  of 
Moses,  perhaps  that  he  might  deify  it,  and  so  delude  this  weak 
people,  who  had  before,  while  Moses  was  in  the  mount,  made 
a  calf  to  worship,  and  had  such  a  veneration  for  Moses,  that  it 
is  possible  they  would  have  worshipped  his  body,  had  not  the 
Almighty,  in  his  wisdom,  buried  him,  where  they  knew  not,  and 
could  not  find  him. 

Afterwards,  in  the  awfulness  of  power,  he  addressed  in 
prayer  Him  who  dwells  in  the  clefts  of  the  rock,  and  in  the 
secret  places  of  the  stairs  that  having  witnessed  the  word  of 


JBTAT.  46.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


431 


reconciliation,  he  was  emboldened,  though  but  dust  and  ashes, 
to  intercede  with  him  on  account  of  his  church  and  people  at 
large,  the  workmanship  of  his  hands,  that,  being  enamoured  with 
his  beauty,  many  might  flock  to  him,  as  doves  to  the  windows. 
He  was  fervently  engaged  for  the  strayed  and  lost  sheep  of  the 
house  of  Israel,  that  they  might  be  saved. 

In  the  Select  Meeting  he  spoke  with  clearness,  and  under  a 
lively  sense  of  the  state  of  the  meeting,  a  living  power  attend- 
ing, to  the  humbling  of  the  minds  of  many.     He  expressed 
how  very  sensible  he  felt  of  the  great  want  there  was  of  Friends 
being  sufficiently  deep  and  weighty  in  their  waiting  upon  the 
Fountain  of  wisdom  and  strength,  especially  ministers,  that  they 
might  indeed  witness  the  springing  up  of  the  well  of  life,  and, 
being  cleansed  by  it,  be  enabled  to  sing  to  it ;  and  this  deep, 
inward  waiting  for  the  springing  up  of  life  is  more  wanting  than 
words  ;  and  if  friends  would  diligently  endeavour  to  be  deep 
enough,  they  would  find  weight  would  be  added  to  them,  and 
their  countenances  would  discover  to  others  something  of  the 
concern  of  their  hearts,  and,  perhaps,  stir  up  the  pure  mind  in 
others  also.     He  encouraged  such  to  endeavour  to  be  helpful 
to  their  friends  and  neighbours,  to  visit  them  as  occasions  offer, 
to  drop  a  word  here  and  a  word  there  ;  it  might  be  a  means  of 
sowing  the  good  seed.    He  mentioned  also  a  disposition  ap- 
parent in  some,  which  retards  their  journey  forward  in  that 
strength  they  might  otherwise  possess,  namely,  a  vivacity  of 
constitution  which  they  have,  and  which  he  found  it  to  be  ne- 
cessary in  himself  to  guard  against ;  he  tenderly  advised  that 
such  would  be  willing  to  let  the  girdle  be  drawn  a  little  tighter, 
and  to  know  the  foal  to  be  bound  to  the  vine,  and  the  ass's  colt 
to  the  choice  vine,  that  they  might  be  strong  to  labour  in  the 
work.    He  spoke,  as  it  had  opened  upon  his  mind,  of  the  Feast 
of  Tabernacles,  how  it  was  formerly  held,  and  a  holy  convo- 
cation, that  after  they  had  gathered  in  their  fruits,  they  were 
not  unconcernedly  to  sit  down  and  enjoy  them,  but  to  get  boughs 
and  make  booths  to  dwell  in  for  a  season,  and  hold  a  holy  con- 


432 


Memoirs  and  letters 


[1762. 


vocation  for  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles  ;  and  so  in  this  day  we 
are  not  to  take  up  a  rest  in  the  fruits  we  have  gathered,  but  en- 
deavour to  be  at  Hberty  to  attend  to  the  service  of  Truth,  in 
whatever  way  it  may  be  pointed  out  to  us  ;  and  if  such 
were  often  to  go  to  the  bottom  of  Jordan,  it  should  be  for  the 
washing  and  cleansing  of  them,  and  they  would  have  to  come 
up  and  bring  their  memorials  with  them  ;  and  some  then  pre- 
sent, he  said,  must  bear  twins  ;  as  it  appeared  to  him,  they 
must  be  concerned  to  maintain  the  discipline  and  good  order  in 
the  Church,  they  must  also  divide  the  word — they  must  bear 
twins. 

In  the  select  meeting  at  Lurgan,  in  order  (as  was  supposed) 
to  awaken  ihe  negligent  to  diligence  before  it  was  too  late,  he 
told  them  of  a  Friend  related  to  himself,  who,  when  young,  was 
religiously  concerned  for  his  soul's  salvation,  and  also  for  the 
good  of  others,  and  about  that  time  had  a  dream,  which  he  rela- 
ted to  S.  F.  when  in  America  ;  he  was  then  in  the  decline  of 
life,  and  in  appearance  not  far  from  the  conclusion  of  his  time  on 
earth,  but  was  not  in  the  state  he  formerly  had  been,  having  much 
neglected  the  gift  bestowed  upon  him,  and  cared  too  much  for 
the  things  of  this  life,  how  he  should  provide  for  his  family, 
&c.,  had  lost  the  good  state,  and  was  plunged  into  distress, 
darkness,  and  sorrow,  the  portion  of  the  disobedient ;  and  in 
this  latter  part  of  his  life  he  had  another  dream.  The  first 
was,  his  being  placed  in  a  fine  green  field  or  pasture,  wall- 
ed round,  and  several  lambs  feeding  in  it,  well  favoured  and 
in  good  order,  and  in  the  midst  a  pure  clear  spring  for 
them  to  drink  at ;  that  a  sharp  axe  was  given  him  with  which 
to  guard  the  well,  that  nothing  should  muddy  it,  and  to  keep 
up  the  wall,  and  if  any  breaches  were  made  in  it  that  he 
must  repair  them.  The  latter  dream  was,  that  he  saw  him- 
self in  the  same  field,  but  it  had  lost  its  verdure,  the  lambs  were 
distempered  and  disordered,  the  wall  much  broken  down,  the 
water  muddy,  and  serpents  in  it  hissing  at  him,  which  he 
could  not  destroy  or   overcome,  having   lost  the  weapon 


^TAT.  46.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  ,  433 

formerly  given  him,  and  that  as  he  stood  looking  at  the  lambs, 
he  thought  he  heard  a  voice,  saying — "  All  these  will  I  require 
at  thy  hands." 

11th  Mo.,  3d. — At  the  concluding  meeting  in  DuWin,  he  began 
with  the  salutation  of  the  Apostle  Paul  to  one  of  the  Churches, 
— "  The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love  of  God, 
and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost  be  with  you  all.  Amen  !" 
He  enlarged  upon  this,  setting  forth  the  efficacy  of  that  grace, 
through  the  birth,  life,  sufferings,  and  death  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ;  and  how  wonderful  was  that  grace,  that  he  who  was 
with  the  Father  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  rejoicing  be- 
fore him,  who  was  heir  of  all  things,  should  take  upon  him  the 
form  of  a  servant,  and  be  clothed  with  the  infirmities  of  human 
nature,  and  be  like  unto  us  in  all  things,  sin  only  excepted,  in 
that  body  which  his  Father  had  prepared  for  him  to  do  his  will 
in,  as  in  the  volume  of  the  book  it  is  written,  in  order  to  be  a 
propitiatory  sacrifice,  not  for  our  sins  only,  but  for  the  sins  of 
the  whole  world  ;  and  his  coming  should  be  so  humble,  though 
he  came  from  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  and  being  the  brightness 
of  his  glory,  as  to  be  laid  in  a  manger  ;  this  appearance  was  so 
mean  in  the  eyes  of  the  Jews,  who  expected  it  would  have  been 
in  a  splendid  manner,  that  they  could  not  receive  it,  but  queried, 
— Is  not  this  the  carpenter's  son  ? — and  a  Luciferian  spirit  was, 
he  feared,  too  much  given  way  to  in  this  day,  by  such  as  are 
above  his  small  appearance  in  their  hearts  ;  yet  how  astonish- 
ing was  this  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ !  who  submitted 
to  suffer  temptation,  reproach,  distressing  agony,  when  he  trod 
the  wine-press  alone,  and  of  the  people  there  was  none  with 
him,  as  it  was  prophesied  : — "  Who  is  this  that  cometh  from 
Edom  ?  with  dyed  garments  from  Bozrah  ?  this,  that  is  glori- 
ous in  his  apparel,  travelling  in  the  greatness  of  his  strengh  ?  I 
that  speak  in  righteousness,  mighty  to  save.  Wherefore  art 
thou  red  in  thine  apparel,  and  thy  garments  like  him  that  tread- 
eth  in  the  wine-fat  ?    I  have  trodden  the  wine-press  alone,  and 

of  the  people  there  was  none  with  me."    And  when  the  drops 
56 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1762. 


of  sweat  were  like  blood,  he  would,  if  it  were  possible,  that  the 
cup  might  pass  from  him,  but,  in  resignation  to  the  will  of  his 
Father,  he  gave  up  to  drink  it,  and  to  feel  that  agonizing  state, 
when  he  was  stripped  of  all  comfort,  so  as  to  cry  out — "  My 
God,  my  God,  why  hast  lliou  forsaken  me  ?"  And  all  this  that 
he  might  b.e  offered  as  a  sacrifice  for  our  sins,  and  for  the  sins 
of  the  whole  world  :  so  that  no  state  of  life  is  exempted  from 
the  benefit  of  his  sufferings  and  death,  if  it  be  not  our  own 
fault ;  and  he  would  not  have  such  as  might  count  themselves 
in  a  low  state  of  life,  be  discouraged,  for  a  stale  of  sin  and  wick- 
edness was  M'hat  he  esteemed  low  and  despicable,  and  no  other  ; 
for  the  favour  of  Heaven  is  not  confined  to  any  station  in  life — 
the  good  tidings  of  our  Saviour's  birth  were  proclaimed  to  the 
shepherds  as  well  as  to  the  wise  men  of  the  East ;  so  that  his 
earnest  desire  and  concern  was,  that  all  ranks  might  witness 
the  advantage  intended  by  such  admirable  grace,  extended  by 
the  compassion  of  the  Father  to  his  creature  man,  the  work- 
manship of  his  hands  ;  and  that  as  the  shepherd  taketh  out  of 
the  mouth  of  the  lion  two  legs  and  a  piece  of  an  ear,  so  shall 
the  children  of  Israel  be  taken  out,  that  dwell  in  Samaria,  in 
the  corner  of  a  bed,  and  in  Damascus  in  a  couch  ;  and  although 
the  form  seems  almost  destroyed  by  the  devourer,  and  it  can 
scarely  be  known  what  it  was  when  complete,  yet  the  good 
Shepherd  was  willing  to  save  his  people,  and  rescue  them  from 
destruction,  though  so  entangled  in  snares  that  little  remains  of 
that  ancient  beauty  that  adorned  our  ancestors  ;  and  this  for 
■want  of  adhering  to  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
dwelling  in  the  pure  love  of  God,  which  would  lead  us  into 
conamunion  one  with  anothei-,  and  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  which 
he  desired  might  be  with  us  all. 

The  account  of  the  visit  thus  concludes  : — On  the  4th 
of  the  11th  Month,  our  friends  "set  sail  for  Liverpool,  and 
"  had  a  safe  passage,  and  were  undoubtedly  kindly  received 
*'  by  such  as  love  the  cause  which  they  so  nobly  gave  them- 
"  selves  up  to  maintain  in  our  poor  land  ;  and  if  their  extra- 


^AT.  47.] 


OF  SAMITBL  POTHBRGIH. 


435 


"  ordinary  labours  do  not  produce  some  good  fruits,  it  seems 
"  as  if  it  would  add  a  heavy  weight  in  the  balance  against 
us." 

At  the  conclusion  of  their  visit,  the  four  Friends  addressed 
an  epistle  to  the  National  Half-year's  Meeting  held  in  Dublin, 
which  was  by  that  meeting  directed  to  be  printed  and  distributed 
to  Friends  throughout  the  nation.  In  their  epistle,  the  commit- 
tee gave  a  comment  upon  each  of  the  eight  queries  which  had 
been  read  and  answered  in  the  various  meetings,  and  thus  com- 
municated their  view  of  the  state  of  the  Society,  adding  much 
excellent  counsel  on  the  contents  of  the  queries,  and  also  on 
some  other  subjects. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  CATHERINE  PAYTON. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  26th,  1763. 

 Thou  art  always,  dear  Friend,  regarded  with 

pure  and  tender  friendship  by  me,  though  I  have  not  always  the 
power  or  opportunity  to  tell  thee  so,  and  my  wishes  for  thy  pre- 
servation and  essential  help  are  as  strong  as  ever — I  mean  when 
I  am  favoured  with  such  a  sense  of  life  and  strength,  as  to  wish 
for  any  good  thing  for  myself  or  others. 

With  regard  to  the  state  of  my  mind  ;  I  live  by  faith,  and  am 
thankful  I  have  that  to  live  on ;  and  if  I  enjoy  little,  I  hope  a 
blessing  rests  upon  that  little.  I  was  indisposed  last  week,  but 
a  messenger  brought  me  an  invitation  to  the  funeral  of  Robert 
Abbatt,  the  elder,  of  Preston  ;  and  I  found,  upon  looking  at  it, 
that  duty  required  me  to  go.  He  was  buried  in  that  town, 
where  never  was  a  Friend  interred  before,  he  having  very  lately 
contracted  for  a  piece  of  ground  for  that  purpose.*  The  meeting 
was  very  large,  and  the  latter  part  of  it  solid,  weighty,  and  emi- 
nently favoured.  I  hope  it  was  a  meeting  of  memorable  use. 
There  are  two  young  men  who  come  amongst  the  few  Friends  in 


»  A  burying-ground  for  the  Society  of  Friends. 


436 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1763. 


that  place,  and  appear  sober  and  hopeful,  attend  the  meetings,  first 
and  week  day,  but  have  a  deal  to  bear  from  their  relations  ;  they 
were  so  closely  watched,  the  night  I  was  at  Preston,  that  they, 
durst  not  come  to  converse  with  me.  Thus,  the  Lord's  work 
is  going  forward,  and  it  will  prosper  in  his  own  way  and  time, 
notwithstanding  everj''  discouragement,  arising  from  within  and 
without.  Several  are  convinced  at  Bolton,  some  of  whom  have 
joined  in  society  with  Friends  ;  and  I  hope  the  Truth  gains 
ground  in  those  parts,  though  too  many  of  the  children  of  Abra- 
ham revolt  deeply,  and  may  be  thrown  aside  as  useless,  or  un- 
meet for  the  great  work  of  reformation. 

I  have  received  a  letter  from  my  brother  ;  there  are  two  cir- 
cumstances mentioned  in  it,  which  are  interesting  to  my  affec- 
tions : — our  sister's  indisposition,  which  had  been  severe,  but 
was  abated  ;  the  other  take  in  his  own  words  ;  — "  Our  worthy, 
"  steady  friend,  John  Hayward,  is  now  no  more  ;  he  departed 
"  this  life  last  night,  at  Plaistow,  after  a  slow,  and  somewhat 
"  painful  illness  of  some  weeks  ;  I  am  just  come  from  thence 
"  this  evening,  and  thought  it  would  be  proper  to  tell  thee  that 
"  our  father's  friend,  and  ours,  retained  his  senses  and  integrity 
"  to  the  last.  Full  of  love,  full  of  hope,  and  satisfied  that  his 
"  work  was  done,  and  his  house  in  order."  Thus,  dear  friend, 
are  we  gradually  deprived  of  the  company  of  faithful  elders. 
Oh  may  we  silently  and  solemnly  prostrate  ourselves  daily 
before  the  Preserver  of  men,  that  if  old  age  be  allotted  us,  it 
may  be  dignified  with  that  steady,  uniform,  virtue,  which  hath 
rendered  to  some  the  latest  hours  of  life  the  best.  With  this 
sentiment  fresh  on  my  spirit,  I  conclude,  with  the  assurance  of 
constant  affection,  in  which  my  wife  concurs. 

S.  F. 


jETAT.  47.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


437 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  AND  MARY  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  3d  Mo.,  14th,  1763. 

In  a  fresh  sense  of  undiminished  friendship,  I  affec- 
tionately salute  you,  with  strong  and  fervent  wishes  for  your 
stability  and  increase  in  every  substantial  good  ;  that  you  may 
be  replenished  with  that  peace,  and  fruition  of  heavenly  good, 
which  in  all  ages  have  been  the  stay  and  strength  of  the  faithful. 
The  means  conducive  to  this  end  have  been  clearly  exhibited 
to  you  in  various  experience,  in  which,  by  the  permission  of 
our  Father  who  is  in  heaven,  you  have  been  repeatedly  exer- 
cised. I  see  a  great  deal  of  instruction  in  the  words — "  If  ye 
know  these  things,  happy  are  ye  if  ye  do  them."  To  know  the 
counsel  of  the  Lord,  is  rendered  an  essential  blessing  only  in 
proportion  to  our  fidelity  in  correspondent  practice  ;  the  simpli- 
city of  obedience  is  our  best  covering,  and  will  stand  us  in  stead 
when  extensive  knowledge,  and  quickness  of  apprehension  in 
unpractised  truths,  will  only  pierce  the  hand  that  grasps  at 
them,  as  the  principal  dependence  and  treasure. 

Dear  friends,  I  am  often  present  in  spirit  with  you,  I  rejoice 
in  every  genuine  joy  you  possess,  and  I  sympathise  with  you  in 
whatever  afflictive  scene  opens  to  you,  and  to  nothing  better 
can  I  recommend  you  than  a  patient,  quiet,  steady  attention  to 
Him  who  forms  day  and  night,  directs  the  alternation  of  the  sea- 
sons, and  holds  in  his  hand  every  wind  that  can  possibly  blow 
on  the  dwelhngs  of  men.  I  feel  for  your  children  that  anxious 
concern  which  attends  a  solicitude  for  the  preservation  of  those 
who  are  ranked  in  the  near  relation  of  most  tender  friends ; 
they  are  now  grown  up  to  mature  years,  they  have  had  many 
opportunities  of  knowing  wherein  the  durable  riches  consist. 

And  you,  beloved  young  people,  descendants  of  such  as  have 
been  zealous  for  the  Lord's  cause,  I  beseech  you  be  ye  helpers 
of  their  joy,  strengthen  their  hands  to  labour,  by  evidencing  to 
the  world  the  influence  of  their  example  and  instruction  in  your- 


4318'  MBMOIRS  JkNB  LETTERS  [17531 

selves,  who  are  allied  to  them  by  the  tenderest  connexion.  For 
it  is  a  mournful  circumstance  when  the  Lord's  servants  are  en- 
feebled by  the  transgressions  of  their  own  house,  and  that  any 
children  should  call  their  parents  fools,  by  acting  contrary  to 
their  tender,  affectionate  advice,  and  parental  authority. 

My  friendship  for  you  is  not  transient,  not  warm  only  while  I 
am  writing  to  you,  it  often  animates  my  mind  when  I  have  nei- 
ther opportunity  nor  capacity  to  tell  you  so. 

I  am  not  idle,  some  employment  or  other  often  offers  ;  I  only 
beg  preservation  as  an  individual,  and  help  to  fill  up  my  duty. 
I  have  been  a  laborious  journey  through  Ireland,  to  my  own 
peace  ;  immediately  on  my  return,  I  was  seized  with  an  indis- 
position ;  it  continued  some  weeks  ;  I  recovered  my  health ; 
my  wife  was  taken  very  ill,  and  for  some  time  imminent  danger 
attended,  but  she  is,  through  mercy,  recovered.  I  would  not  be 
further  tedious  ;  I  love  you  with  great  sincerity,  and  should  be 
glad  to  find  I  am  remembered  by  you  in  the  same  tender  affec- 
tion. Our  mutual  friend,  John  Stevenson,  is  sitting  by  me  ;  I 
tell  him  I  am  writing  to  you,  he  desires  to  be  affectionately 
remembered  to  you  and  your  children.  Farewell,  and  be  assured 
I  am  your  constant,  cordial  friend, 

S.  F. 

In  the  third  month,  1763,  he  obtained  the  certificate  of  the 
Monthly  Meeting  to  pay  a  religious  visit  to  Friends  in  Essex, 
and  some  of  the  eastern  counties  ;  and  in  the  eleventh  month 
of  the  same  year,  he  was  engaged  in  a  similar  service  in  the 
city  of  London,  and  some  neighbouring  places. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  GURNEY. 

Warrington,  11th  Mo.,  10th,  1763. 

I  am  sensible  my  silence  hath  borne  the  mark  of 
ingratitude  to  a  friend  to  whom  I  am  much  obliged,  and  for 


^TAT.  48.]  OP  SAKUEL  FOTHERGILL.  ■  ?409 

whom  I  retain  the  warmest  sentiments  of  affection  ;  but  frequent 
avocations,  indisposition  of  body,  and  feebleness  of  mind  must 

plead  my  excuse  ;  thou  hast  very  frequently  been  the 

subject  of  my  cordial  remembrance,  and  the  sincerest  wishes  for 
every  thing  prosperous  to  thee  and  thine  accompany  that  remem- 
brance. 

I  have  been  several  journeys  since  my  return  from  Norwich  ; 
twice  into  Yorkshire,  and  some  in  adjacent  counties.  I  oftentimes 
feel  the  weight  and  burden  of  the  concern  for  the  Church's  wel- 
fare, and  rejoice  at  times  in  the  revival  of  the  same  concern  on 
divers  minds  :  may  all  such,  to  whom  the  interests  of  our  Zion 
are  precious,  ever  keep  under  the  influence  of  that  Hand  which 
can  alone  preserve  individuals  alive  and  vigorous,  and  render 
useful  for  general  edification.  It  is  a  smgular  favour  to  dwell 
near  the  Fountain  of  wisdom,  and  under  the  sense  of  the  sup- 
port of  all-powerful  Goodness  ;  by  this  means,  the  good  report 
which  attended  the  faithful  elders  was  obtained,  and  the  durable 
riches  of  holy  peace  crowned  their  life  and  death  ;  their  faith 
patience,  and  victory  are  inciting  examples  to  the  like-minded 
of  the  present  generation,  and  oh  that  our  lots  may  be  cast  in 
their  goodly  quarters  !  I  see,  methinks  clearly,  the  extending 
of  an  unchangeable  virtue  towards  many  amongst  us,  and  it 
prevails  so  far  as  to  excite  strong  desires  for  the  honour  of  the 
glorious  name  and  cause  :  too  few,  alas  !  so  follow  on  in  the 
most  holy  path  as  to  grow  up  to  that  degree  of  perfection  in 
labour  and  understanding,  that  lies  before  us  as  the  standard  of 
religious  growth.  May  thou  and  I,  dear  John,  follow  on  to 
know  the  Lord  with  full  purpose  of  heart,  that  we  may  fill  up  the 
duty  of  our  day,  and  enjoy  the  reward  of  all  the  faithful.  I  am 
made  often  to  remember,  it  is  by  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
our  salvation  is  perfected.  Neither  tradition,  former  experience, 
the  most  indubitable  conviction  of  the  nature  of  true  religion 
seated  in  the  head,  can  ever  effectually  complete  the  work  in  us 
or  others  ;  but  the  renewed  daily  experience  of  redeeming,  en- 
larging virtue,  to  build  us  up  to  His  praise  who  hath  gathered  us 


440 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1764. 


in  measure  to  the  morning,  and  to  the  advanced  light  of  a  blessed, 
heavenly  day. 

The  same  affectionate  solicitude  which  warms  and  engages 
my  mind  on  thy  account,  strongly  prevails  with  me  for  thy  dear 
wife,  accompanied  with  hope  for  her  preservation  and  sure 
establishment  in  Divine  favour,  which  hath  not  failed  her  in 
many  besetments  in  time  past ;  and  may  every  essential  favour 
from  Heaven  be  with  you  and  your's  for  ever. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  GEORGE  HARRISON.* 

Warrington,  1st  Mo.,  20th,  1764. 

The  agreeable  impressions  thy  sobriety,  and  I  hope 
religious  conduct,  made  upon  my  mind,  whilst  thou  was  at  school 
at  Penketh,  remain  with  me,  and  my  desires  are  very  strong 
that  they  may  ever  remain  upon  thee,  as  the  means  of  thy 
happiness,  here  and  for  ever.  And  the  motions  of  true  well- 
wishing  are  now  so  fresh  upon  my  mind,  as  to  induce  me  to 
give  thee  this  proof  of  my  affectionate  friendship,  and  earnest 
desires  on  thy  account,  that  so  promising  a  morning  may  rise 
higher  and  higher  in  lustre,  to  the  full  completion  of  His  glorious 
purpose,  who  hath  remembered  thee  with  a  precious  visitation 
from  on  high. 

We  live,  dear  George,  in  a  time  wherein  too  many  forget  the 
end  of  their  being — to  glorify  God  on  earth,  and  be  glorified 
with  him  hereafter.  Vanity,  folly,  and  dissipation  capti- 
vate the  minds  of  most ;  oh  that  thou,  who  hast  seen  into 
a  more  exalted  end  of  thy  being,  may  be  preserved  from 
such  a  deplorable  state  !  And  in  order  to  rejoice  in  this 
experience,  may  thy  mind  dwell  always  under  the  influence 
of  that  circumscribing  fear,  which  keeps  the  heart  clean, 

*  George  Harrison  was  a  native  of  Kendal,  resided  for  many  years  in 
London,  and  died  at  Wandsworth  in  the  3d  Mo.,  1827,  aged  80  years. 


iETAT.  48.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


441 


whereby  wisdom  and  knowledge  will  become  the  stability  of 
thy  times.  Let  thy  heart  be  often  lifted  up  to  God  in  secret 
prayer  for  preservation,  and  keep  within  the  bounds  of  his  re- 
vealed will.  Beware  of  departing,  in  the  least,  from  that  plain- 
ness, watchfulness,  and  simplicity  of  heart,  which  often  drew 
my  mind  towards  thee  in  tender  love,  and  which,  I  am  assured, 
also  recommended  thee  to  heavenly  regard. 

I  understand  thou  goest  to  a  school  where  the  master  is  not  a 
member  of  our  Society,  nor  many,  if  any  of  the  boys,  thy  school- 
fellows. Very  serviceable  mayst  thou  be  in  thy  place,  if  thou 
art  so  subject  to  the  power  of  that  principle  of  grace  and  truth 
we  profess,  as  to  shew  forth  its  excellency  by  a  good  conversa- 
tion coupled  with  true  fear.  This  may  be  the  happy  means  of 
affecting  other  youthful  minds  with  the  remembrance  of  their 
Creator  in  their  youth  ;  thou  wilt  then  be  rendered  a  happy  in- 
strument of  advancing  the  kingdom  of  righteousness  on  earth, 
and  enjoy  the  glorious  reward  ;  For  they  that  be  wise  shall  shine 
as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and  they  that  turn  many  to 
righteousness,  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever.  I  beseech  thee 
be  careful  in  all  thy  conduct ;  have  a  care  how  thou  departs  away 
in  things  deemed  little.  The  boundaries  of  innocence  once 
passed,  it  is  difficult  to  say  where  people  will  stop.  Daily 
seek  after  the  favour  of  the  Most  High ;  let  a  morning  and  even- 
ing sacrifice  arise  to  him  from  the  soul ;  that  being  grounded 
and  established  in  holy  certainty  of  his  presence,  neither  flattery 
nor  derision  may  ever  lead  thee  into  the  dark  paths  of  infidelity ; 
but  that  thou  mayst  ever  rejoice,  with  joy  unutterable  and  full 
of  glory,  in  the  knowledge  of  Him  in  whom  thou  hast  believed. 

I  greatly  tender  thy  welfare  ;  I  feel  for  thee  sensations 
stronger  than  nature  can  suggest ;  and  in  the  warmth  of  this 
best  love,  I  commend  thee  to  the  protection  of  the  Preserver  of 
men.  I  earnestly  wish  thee  a  safe  hiding-place,  as  under  the 
hollow  of  His  hand,  and  a  hope  in  his  salvation  on  thy  account 
accompanies  my  wishes. 

S.  F. 

57 


442 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1764. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JAMES  PEMBERTON. 

London,  3d  Mo.,  28th,  1764. 

Those  warm  sensations  of  friendship  which  I  have 
entertained  for  thee,  I  with  pleasure  often  feel  renewed  in  my 
mind,  and  afresh  at  this  time.  T  make  no  other  apology  for  my 
past  silence  than  this— a  variety  of  engagements  have  confined 
me  very  much  to  such  as  are  quite  necessary.  The  last  winter 
hath  been  a  state  of  confinement,  through  a  tedious  indisposition. 
I  dedicated  the  first-fruits  of  returning  health  to  this  city,  to 
which  I  thought  I  owed  a  visit.  I  have  been  here  three  weeks, 
and  though  in  a  state  of  precarious  health,  yet  upon  the  whole 
satisfied  with  my  journey,  believing,  when  I  have  done  what  I 
can,  I  have  done  what  I  ought. 

I  cannot  but  deeply  interest  myself  in  whatever  attends  a 
province  and  a  people,  to  whom  my  mind  is  often  united  in  the 
strong  ties  of  brotherly  union,  and  for  whom  I  feel  the  warm  at- 
tachment of  that  love,  which,  when  present  with  you,  was  mu- 
tually and  richly  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts.  There  remain 
amongst  you  a  number  who  will  profit  by  these  alarming  cir- 
cumstances, and  quicken  your  mind  to  a  frequent  recourse  to 
the  strong  Tower  of  all  the  righteous  ;  a  number  who  consider- 
ed it  their  alone  safety  in  days  of  prosperity,  and  were  concerned 
in  those  seasons  to  cleave  in  soul  to  the  never-failing  Good,  as 
their  principal  riches  ;  and  now,  in  the  day  of  calamity  and  vio- 
lent commotion,  know  the  inestimable  value  of  the  Father  and 
Friend  of  his  people  being  their  stay  and  succour.  Oh  that  more 
of  the  minds  of  the  divinely  visited  among  you  were  centred  in 
the  calming  virtue,  and  had  been  kept  out  of  the  hurries  and 
bustle ;  surely  the  canopy  of  salvation  would  have  eminently 
overshadowed  many,  and  they  would  not  now  have  been  left  to 
dispersion,  and  wandering  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd.  May 
the  hitherto  preserved  of  God  dwell  in  the  hiding-place  of  His 
power,  that  if  yet  the  skies  gather  more  blackness,  and  the 


iETAT.  48.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


443 


tempest  break  forth  with  redoubled  violence,  these  may  be  kept 
under  the  hollow  of  an  Omnipotent  hand,  until  the  storm  be 
overpast. 

Some  reports  have  circulated  here,  that  there  hath  appeared 
among  many  under  our  name,  with  you,  a  sorrowful  defection 
from  our  religious  testimony,  by  taking  up  arms  ;  and  this  is 
affirmed  concerning  some,  for  whom  I  hoped  much  belter 
things.  If  this  be  the  case,  it  will  be  an  additional  affliction.  I 
earnestly  wish  the  minds  of  the  living  may  be  influenced  by 
that  wisdom  which  is  from  above,  and  put  on  fervent  charity 
one  towards  another,  endeavouring  to  restore  in  the  spirit  of 
love  and  meekness,  but  ever  mindful  of  that  testimony  to  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  which  was  delivered  to  us  to  maintain  to  the 
world. 

Thine  affectionately, 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HENRY  PORTSMOUTH.* 

Warrington,  8th  Mo.,  16th,  1764. 

Since  our  first  acquaintance,  which  is  now  of  many  years' 
standing,  thou  hast  possessed  a  share  in  my  affectionate  friend- 
ship, and  a  hope  accompanied  my  earnest  desire  for  thy  preser- 
vation in  the  Truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  to  a  happy  conclusion. 
Great  was  my  concern,  therefore,  when  I  had  a  manuscript  trans- 
mitted to  me,  signed  by  thy  name,  and,  as  I  am  since  fully  con- 
firmed, was  thy  performance  ;  a  manuscript  which  militated 
against  a  material  and  fundamental  testimony  received  amongst 
us  as  a  people,  and  which,  I  fully  believe,  is  of  Divine  original ; 
but,  inasmuch  as  reasoning  and  argument  laid  not  the  founda- 
tion of  our  dissent,  but  the  secret  influence  of  the  pure,  holy 
principle  of  truth  and  righteousness,  it  is  not  in  my  mind  so 
much  to  attempt  a  refutation  of  thy  arguments,  as  to  endeavour 
to  turn  thy  mind  to  that  which  first  visited  thy  soul,  and  drew 

*  Henry  Portsmouth  died  at  Basingstoke,  IQth  Mo.,  17th,  1780,  aged  77. 


444 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1764. 


thee  into  communion  with  us.  I  beseech  thee,  call  to  mind  the 
discoveries  and  impressions  made  in  the  days  of  tender  inquiry 
after  Truth  and  peace  with  God  ;  what  it  led  to,  and  what  it  led 
from  ;  and  diligently  examine  whether  thou  hast  kept  thy  first 
love  ;  whether  the  spirit  of  this  world  hatli  not  entered,  and 
allured  thee  from  that  holy,  circumscribed  frame  of  spirit,  in 
which  we  can  alone  abide  in  safety,  and  witness  the  salvation  of 
God  to  be  as  walls  and  bulwarks  about  us  ;  a  frequent,  impar- 
tial scrutiny  of  this  kind  appears  to  me  necessary  for  us  all.  lest, 
having  run  well  for  a  time,  we  should  unhappily  miss  our  way, 
and  stumble  on  the  mountains  of  error,  and  fall  to  rise  no  more  ; 
most  necessary,  therefore,  is  the  advice,  "  Walk  in  the  light," 
that  ye  may  become  children  of  the  light,  and  of  the  day  of 
God,  and  be  preserved  through  the  jeopardies  of  time,  and 
from  the  deceivableness  of  unrighteousness,  to  a  happy  posses- 
sion of  that  crown  of  life,  which  is  reserved  for  all  those  who 
fight  the  good  fight,  and  keep  the  faith.  If,  upon  a  most  serious 
anticipation  of  that  solemn  day,  when  every  secret  shall  be  dis- 
closed, and  true  judgment  administered,  thou  findest  not  the 
testimony  of  Divine  approbation  sealed  upon  thy  spirit,  in  this 
dissent  from  thy  former  friends,  I  entreat  thee,  by  every  consi- 
deration which  happiness  in  time  or  in  eternity  can  suggest, 
stand  open  to  conviction  ;  it  is  infinitely  better  to  retract  an 
error,  though  we  may  fall  into  the  hands,  or  under  the  censures 
of  men,  than  to  persist  in  any  doctrine  or  practice  repugnant  to 
the  holy  Witness,  and  thereby  incur  Divine  displeasure  ;  if  we 
fall  upon  the  stone,  which  is  a  stone  of  offence  to  the  wisdom  of 
this  world,  it  will  break  us  to  pieces  ;  but  if  it  fall  upon  us,  it 
will  grind  us  to  powder.  Oh,  may  thy  mind  be  turned  to  the 
hght,  and  witness  the  searching  of  heart  for  the  divisions  of 
Reuben,  that  natural  might  and  strength,  and  boasting  excellence 
which  subtilely  spreads  itself  through  the  incautious  mind,  but 
God  hath  determined,  that  in  his  kingdom  and  work  it  never 
shall  excel. 

When  I  was  last  in  London,  I  saw  a  long  letter  from  thee, 


iETAT.  48.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


445 


addressed  to  Jacob  Hagen,  which  added  to  my  sorrow  on  thy 
account ;  the  intention  of  this  letter  seemed  to  be,  to  intimidate 
Friends  from  deaUng  with  such  amongst  us  as  renounce  the 
testimony  we  were  raised  up  to  maintain.  I  ever  wish  to  see 
love,  tenderness,  and  long-suffering  exercised  in  the  Society, 
one  towards  another  ;  and,  as  far  as  in  my  power,  have  endea- 
voured to  promote  it,  that  that  which  is  weak  may  not  be  turned 
out  of  the  way,  but  rather  restored.  Nevertheless,  there  is  a 
necessity  for  a  steady  regard  to  be  paid  to  the  prime  ends  of  our 
being  raised  up  as  a  people,  viz.,  the  supporting  a  testimony  to 
the  coming  of  the  reign  of  the  peaceable  Saviour,  whose  king- 
dom is  not  of  this  world.  Our  worthy  ancestors  received  this 
testimony,  and  were  called  to  bear  it ;  and,  harmonizing  toge- 
ther in  the  truths  of  Christianity,  they  united  in  one  body,  being 
of  one  heart,  and  under  the  dominion  of  one  spirit.  A  people 
thus  formed  for  the  Lord's  use,  in  carrying  on  the  work  of  glo- 
rious reformation  in  the  earth,  and  whose  testimony  contradicted 
the  received  maxims  of  the  world  and  its  policy,  had  to  expect 
the  opposition  and  suffering  which  ensued,  first,  from  the  pow- 
ers of  the  world,  which  raged  at  the  birth  of  the  Man-child,  and 
sought  to  swallow  him  up  ;  but  He  who  had  called  them  to 
show  forth  his  salvation,  and  to  step  forward  to  the  perfection 
of  Christianity,  supported  them  under  cruel  persecution,  to  his 
own  praise,  and  the  promotion  of  his  name  on  earth.  The  se- 
cond and  most  painful  cause  of  distress  and  sorrow,  was  the 
apostacy  of  some,  who  kept  not  their  habitations  in  the  light, 
but,  departing  from  the  union  of  the  spirit,  lost  their  places  in 
the  body,  and  became  its  most  invidious  opposers  :  their  plea 
was  liberty — their  design  licentiousness,  to  introduce  confusion 
and  anarchy,  and  sap  the  foundation  on  which  our  union  stands, 
and  rend  the  seamless  garment  of  our  Lord  and  Master.  After 
much  waiting  and  tender  advice,  the  Church  testified  to  the 
world,  that  these  were  not  of  her.  No  injury  was  done  to  the 
person  or  persons  who  ceased  to  be  of  us,  by  disclaiming  our 
essential  principles  ;  it  was  justice  due  to  the  testimony  of  Truth, 


446 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1764. 


and  to  the  Society,  to  declare  to  the  world  that  these  first  forsook 
us,  and  not  we  them. 

Some  part  of  thine  to  Jacob  Hagen,  seems  to  render  it  not 
improper  to  vindicate  that  part  of  the  Society  thou  slylest  zeal- 
ots, from  any  imputation  of  endeavouring  to  lord  it  over  their 
brethren's  faith.  I  believe  many  of  those  Friends  in  Philadel- 
phia, who,  precipitated  by  their  fear  in  time  of  great  alarm,  took 
up  arms,  will,  on  cool  reflection,  and  by  tender  dealing,  be 
brought  to  see  the  inconsistency  of  their  conduct,  and  return  to 
their  places  in  the  house  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  ;  and  I  doubt 
not  the  tenderness  of  their  brethren  towards  them.  But  great 
is  the  difference  between  these^  and  a  person  who  coolly  and 
deliberately  forsakes  the  testimony  of  Truth,  and  teaches,  as  far 
as  he  can,  others  to  do  so.  The  cause  is  not  ours — it  is  not  of 
the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  but  of  God ;  the  longer  I 
live,  the  clearer  I  see  it,  and  it  is  a  testimony  which  will  gain 
ground,  and  yet  spread  more  and  more  amongst  mankind.  I 
am  convinced  of  it  as  a  most  certain  truth,  not  only  from  faith 
in  the  progress  of  the  spirit  and  power  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
towards  the  redemption  of  the  world,  and  beautifying  the  place 
of  his  feet,  but  even  from  the  conversation  I  have  had  with  some 
of  eminent  stations  in  the  world.  A  person  of  high  distinction 
as  a  warrior  told  me  some  time  ago,  that  though  he  was  a  sol- 
dier, no  part  of  our  principles  was  more  just  in  his  apprehen- 
sion, than  our  declining  war  in  every  respect.  He  said,  he 
believed  the  day  would  come  when  nation  should  not  lift  up 
sword  against  nation,  and  when  they  should  not  learn  war  any 
more.  He  remarked,  that  so  mighty  a  change  must  be  gradu- 
ally brought  about,  and  the  morning  of  that  glorious  day  had  (he 
believed)  dawned  amongst  us  as  a  people.  Happy  are  they  who 
abide  in  their  ranks  in  the  Lord's  service  ;  they  will  mingle  at 
length  with  the  conquerors,  and  inherit  all  things. 

I  beseech  thee,  my  friend,  consider  things  deeply ;  if  thou 
cease  to  be  one  of  us,  as  a  society  raised  for  the  purpose 


jETAT.  48.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  447 

intimated  above,  why  shouldst  thou  endeavour  to  dravsr 
others  after  thee  from  the  Lord's  cause  ?  a  work  which  on  a 
dying  bed  will  not  be  crowned  with  peace.  Blame  not  Friends 
for  their  faithfulness  to  their  avowed  principles,  and  steady  ad- 
herence to  the  cause  of  God.  If  the  way  is  become  too  strait 
for  thee  to  walk  in,  censure  not  those  who  dare  not  leave  it, 
whatever  suffering  may  arise,  from  the  power  of  this  world,  or 
the  defection  of  such  amongst  us  from  whom  we  hoped  belter 
things.  I  cannot  easily  omit  mentioning  how  my  mind  was 
struck  on  hearing  thy  name  read  in  the  correspondent  book,  the 
last  Yearly  Meeting,  as  a  correspondent  for  Hampshire  ;  how 
inconsistent  this  is,  must  at  once  appear  to  any  considerate 
person.  What  advice  couldst  thou  give  to  a  tender  Friend  in 
distress  on  the  mililia  law  ?  or  how  couldst  thou  represent  it,  if 
necessary,  to  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  in  London,  when  thy- 
self hast  ceased  to  maintain  that  branch  of  our  testimony 
Surely,  thy  prudence  as  a  man  will  suggest  the  propriety  of 
having  thy  name  discontinued.  The  bulk  of  this  letter  hath 
greatly  exceeded  my  intention ;  I  make  no  other  apology  than 
my  true  love  for  thee  and  thy  family,  and  earnest  desires  for  thy 
recovery  and  restoration ;  and  this  rests  with  me  to  add,  that 
nothing  but  a  close  dwelling  with  thy  Spirit  of  Judgment,  and 
the  holy  fire  which  refines  from  dross  and  tin,  can  prevent  thy 
farther  declension  and  deviation  from  the  way  to  the  kingdom 
of  rest.  Other  branches  of  our  religious  testimony  will  be  called 
in  question  and  despised,  to  the  deep  wounding  of  thy  own  soul, 
and  to  the  grief  of  thy  family  and  friends  ;  but  the  cause  of  God, 
and  his  holy,  eternal  Truth,  will  remain  unhurt  by  the  defection 
of  those  who  forsake  him  ;  for  the  foundation  of  God  standeth 
sure,  having  this  seal— The  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are  his. 
I  am  thy  sincerely  well-wishing  friend, 

S.  F. 

In  1764,  Samuel  Fothergill  was  engaged  in  a  general  visit  to 
the  meetings  of  Friends  in  Scotland  ;  in  which  he  was  accom- 


448 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1764. 


panied  by  Isaac  Wilson.  Tliis  visit  was  not,  like  that  to  Ireland, 
two  5'ears  previously,  by  appointment  of  the  Yearly  Meeting, 
yet  it  was  somewhat  of  the  same  character,  being  to  inquire  into 
the  state  of  th^i  Society,  and  also  in  the  present  case  to  endeavour 
to  improve  and  restore  the  discipline  in  that  country,  which  was 
at  that  time  reduced  to  a  very  low  state.  In  several  places,  the 
Monthly  Meetings  had  almost  ceased  to  be  held,  and  it  could 
not  be  ascertained  who  were,  and  who  were  not,  entitled  to 
membership  in  the  Society.  This  lamentable  condition  conti- 
nued for  about  twenty  years  after  this  period  ;  when,  in  1784, 
the  lale  John  and  Elizabeth  Wigham,  from  a  sense  of  religious 
duty,  went  to  reside  in  Scotland;  this  tended  much  to  the  re- 
vival of  the  Society  there  ;  some  other  ministers  were  about  the 
same  time  led  to  visit  this  nearly  desolate  part  of  the  heritage ; 
amongst  these  were  George  Dillwyn  and  Henry  Tuke,  who 
visited  Scotland  more  than  once  about  this  time  ;  John  Pem- 
berton  also  was  much  engaged  in  that  nation.  Soon  after  this, 
the  discipline  was  in  good  measure  restored,  and  a  few  solid 
Friends  were  raised  up  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  the  Society.* 

*  At  the  time  of  S.  Fothergill's  visit,  the  meetings  for  discipline  in 
Scotland  were, 

First,  the  Yearly  and  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Aberdeen,  consisting  of  three 
Monthly  Meetings,  viz.  Aberdeen,  Kinmuck,  and  Urie.  With  Kinmuck 
was  joined  the  meeting  of  Old  Meldrum,  and  with  Urie  that  of  Stonehaven. 

Second,  the  Yearly  and  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Edinburgh,  also  compris- 
ing three  Monthly  Meetings,  viz.  Edinburgh ;  consisting  of  the  particular 
meetings  of  Edinburgh  and  Preston-pans  •,  Glasford,  Hamilton,  and  Garth- 
shore  ;  consisting  of  the  Meetings  of  Glasford,  Douglas,  Hamilton,  Badcow, 
and  afterwards  Glasgow  :  Lessenden  ;  formed  of  Lessenden  and  Kelso 
Particular  Meetings. 

They  so  continued  until  1786,  when  a  Special  Epistle  was  received 
from  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London,  confirming  their  being  united  under 
the  name  of  the  Half-\ ear's  Meeting  of  North  Britain,  to  stand  in  the 
same  position  as  the  Quarterly  Meetings  in  England  :  this  was  then  con- 
cluded upon,  and  the  first  of  such  meetings,  afterwards  designated  the 
General  Meeting  for  Scotland,  was  held  at  Aberdeen,  in  the  10th  Month, 
1786. 


jBTAT.  48.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  449 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  JOHN. 

Old  Meldrum,  9th  Mo.,  8ih,  1764. 

 We  stayed  first  day  at  Edinburgh.   The  meetings 

there  are  composed  of  a  very  few  of  our  Societyi  and  few,  very 
few,  of  these  worthy  of  the  name.  Several  came  in,  and  be- 
haved civilly  ;  the  stale  of  the  meeting  is  indeed  very  low,  but 
I  need  not  particularize  that  place,  the  state  of  the  Society  in 
general  is  so,  though  I  trust  there  is  a  little  remnant  preserved 
living.  We  went  from  Edinburgh  to  Stirling,  where  I  appoint- 
ed a  meeting ;  the  magistrates  freely  granted  the  Town-hall, 
and  mostly  attended.  The  meeting  was  to  good  satisfaction, 
being  favoured  with  the  extension  of  heavenly,  humbling  virtue. 
We  passed  througli  Perth,  Dundee,  Montrose,  and  some  other 
towns  of  less  note,  to  Ury,  visiting  a  few  scattered,  poor  indi- 
viduals, where  we  could  find  them,  but  had  no  concern  but  for 
the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel. 

We  had  a  meeting  at  Ury  on  fifth  day  evening  ;  the  particu- 
lar members  of  that  meeting  amount  to  about  thirteen  or  four- 
teen. A  sister  of  the  late,  and  aunt  to  the  present  Robert  Bar- 
clay, appears  a  steady,  solid  Friend.  He  is  very  kind.  We 
propose  to  be  here  to-morrow,  where  is  the  largest  body  of 
Friends  in  Scotland. 

Our  visit  will,  I  believe,  be  peaceful  in  the  event  to  ourselves, 
comfortable  to  a  very  small  number,  and  a  pleasant  amusement 
to  divers  others,  who  would  avail  themselves  of  Truth  being 
exalted,  from  motives  of  self-love.  The  prime  end  of  our  visit, 
the  re-establishment  of  the  discipline,  and  a  close  inspection  into 
the  state  of  the  Society,  will  scarcely  be  obtained.  The  Queries 
are  sometimes  read  in  the  Quarterly  Meetings,  but  rarely,  if 
ever,  considered  in  the  Monthly  Meetings,  which  are  in  several 
places  reduced  to  three  or  four  persons  ;  but  each  having  separ- 
ate bequests  are  determined  against  any  junction,  and  for  the 

same  reason  the  two  Yearly  Meetings  are  determined  against  a 
58 


450 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1764. 


union,  which  we  have  urged  upon  them  as  much  as  prudence 
admittelh  ;  for  I  would  not  exasperate,  by  pressing  too  vehe- 
mently a  matter  the  active  members  are  determined  against ; 
for  I  find  W.  M.  and  R.  B.  inflexibly  bent  against  uniting  the 
meetings. 

It  is  not  right  to  complain  of  the  anxiety  our  prospects  and 
feelings  afford  us  daily  ;  we  ought  to  accompany  the  seed,  and 
it  is  in  this  nation  much  depressed.  The  division  amongst  the 
Presbyterians  is  great ;  Seceders,  and  Seceders,  and  Seceders 
from  them,  are  almost  daily  making  their  appearance  ;  I  some- 
limes  hope  this  is  a  previous  step  to  better  limes,  and  that  the 
commotions  and  overturnings  may  be  a  means  to  raise  a  sense  of 
danger,  and  a  secret  cry  for  relief  to  Him  who  is  alone  able  to 
afford  it.  How  happy  the  lot  of  those  who  know  the  tried 
foundation,  and  with  diligence  and  watchfulness  wait  to  feel 
themselves  established  thereon.  May  it  be  our  continued  expe- 
rience, until  the  time  come  that  we  shall  never  again  be  moved. 

My  companion,  Isaac  Wilson,  is  truly  acceptable  and  helpful. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  10th  Mo.,  19th,  1764. 

I  have  no  conversation  which  furnishes  equal 
satisfaction  with  that  of  now  and  then  renewing  an  agreeable 
intercourse  with  thee  and  dear  brother,  and  you  are  kind 
enough  to  accept  in  good  part  the  proofs  T  sometimes  give 
of  my  most  affectionate  remembrance.  My  late  journey 
into  Scotland  hath  furnished  me  with  some  experience, 
and,  I  hope,  improvement.  I  went  in  great  weakness  and 
simplicity  ;  I  seemed  prepared  for  distress  and  sorrowful 
sympathy ;  I  had  a  secret  hope  that  it  was  not  inconsistent 
with  Christian  charity  to  visit  the  small  remains  of  the 
Society  in  that  nation,  though  I  could  say  or  feel  little  of 
that  injunction  and  duty  which  I  have  often  felt  for  other 


^TAT.  48.] 


OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL. 


451 


services,  but  a  secret  draught  of  mind  hath  accompanied  me  for 
some  time.  We  were  favoured  with  good  weather,  fine  roads, 
and  every  accommodation  necessary  ;  and,  what  is  more  to  be 
valued,  with  the  presence  and  help  of  that  Helper  who  alone  is 
able  to  stay  and  succour,  under  the  pressure  of  every  painful  cir- 
cumstance. May  a  deep  sense  of  his  mercy,  and  my  constant 
need  of  such  relief,  ever  possess  my  mind,  and  then  I  have 
grounds  of  hope  in  the  descending  of  the  latter^  as  well  as  in  the 
trembling  remembrance  of  ihe  former  rain.  The  state  of  the  So- 
ciety is  very  low  in  that  kingdom  ;  so  low  as  to  render  it  very 
difficult  to  see  how  to  labour  amongst  them,  with  regard  to  the 
re-establishment  of  discipline ;  and  such  is  the  genius  of  the 
people,  that  the  overloading  or  overdriving  would  effectually  de- 
feat the  intention  of  our  visit.  We  have  had  divers  opportuni- 
ties of  conference  with  the  few  Friends  who  remain,  and  hope 
to  the  help  of  some  few  individuals  ;  the  event  must  be  left  to 
the  Disposer  of  all. 

I  went  from  our  General  Meeting  at  Manchester  directly  to 
Kendal,  where  I  arrived  on  second  day  night,  and  found  my  mind 
engaged  to  stay  the  funeral  there  of  a  Friend,  not  unknown  to  the 
Doctor  and  me,  when  at  Brigflatts  school.  Isaac  Wilson  and  I 
reached  Edinburgh  by  way  of  Carlisle,  Langholm,  Hawick,  and 
Selkirk.  On  first  day  we  were  at  the  meetings  at  Edinburgh, 
which  were  small  and  poor  respecting  Friends,  but  pretty  many 
others  came  in,  and  we  were  favoured  ;  and  remarkably  so  in 
the  evening,  at  the  burial  ground,  on  occasion  of  the  interment  of 
one  under  our  name,  who  came  to  that  city  a  few  days  before, 
and  died  suddenly.  Next  day  we  went  to  Stirling,  and  had  a 
large  and  satisfactory  meeting  in  the  Court-house.  Isaac  Wil- 
son and  I  then  proceeded  to  Ury,  where  we  had  a  small  meet- 
ing with  the  few  of  our  Society.  On  first  day,  we  went  by 
Aberdeen  to  Old  Meldrum,  calling  to  visit  some  odd  stragglers 
under  our  name  by  the  way.  At  Old  Meldrum  and  the 
neighbourhood  is  the  largest  body  of  Friends  in  Scotland. 
We  had  some  close,  beneficial  opportunities  with  them,  and 


453  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1764. 

left  them  with  the  powerful  evidence  of  having  done  what  we 
found  to  do.  On  our  return  we  had  a  very  large  meeting  at  Aber- 
deen, which  was  to  good  satisfaction.  Our  mutual  friend,  David 
Barclay  was  with  us,  at  Ury  and  Aberdeen.  He  treated  us  with 
great  alfection,  and  was  the  means  of  great  relief  to  my  mind  in 
procuring  us  a  very  large  meeting  at  Aberdeen.  I  attempted, 
about  eighteen  years  since,  to  see  the  inhabitants  of  that  city,  but 
none  would  then  give  me  their  company.  With  close  travel  we 
reached  Edinburgh  on  the  fifth  day  evening,  and  stayed  over  the 
ensuing  first  day,  endeavouring  to  spend  our  time  not  remote 
from  the  intention  of  our  visit.  We  had  a  meeting,  consisting  of 
the  members  of  our  Societ)'-,  to  good  satisfaction,  as  the  result  of 
faithful  labour,  though  afflicted  to  see  and  feel  the  extremely  low 
state  of  things  amongst  them  ;  but,  through  Divine  favour,  the 
testimony  was  exalted,  the  disobedient  warned,  and  the  little 
which  remained  alive  encouraged.  But  upon  that  city,  a  cloud 
of  darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death  seems  to  me  to  remain  in  a 
distinguishable  manner  ;  and  I  think,  though  their  number  may 
amount  to  near  thirty,  there  is  scarcely  one  bound  in  heart  to  the 
testimony.  We  went  to  Glasgow,  where  we  had  a  large  open 
meeting;  many  principal  people  of  the  city  were  there,  and 
Truth  mercifully  owned  us.  We  met  with  much  civility  there  ; 
the  magistrates  treated  us  with  great  regard,  and  in  a  manner 
I  could  not  expect.  Several  of  the  principal  people  earnestly 
requested  my  longer  stay,  as  they  alleged  they  knew  nothing  of 
Quakers  but  through  the  medium  of  misrepresentation,  and 
were  astonished  to  find  our  principles  so  different  from  those 
which  their  ministers  generally  ascribed  to  us.  But  finding  our 
minds  clear,  we  left  the  place,  and  went  to  Edinburgh,  and 
Guyle  Kirk,  and  so  to  Kelso,  where  we  had  a  pretty  open 
meeting,  amongst  a  few  worthless  people,  under  our  name,  ac- 
companied by  a  few  of  other  Societies,  who  seemed  nearer 
the  kingdom.  On  seventh  day  we  reached  Newcastle,  and 
pame  thence  to  Kendal. 

S.  F. 


jBTAT.  49.]  OF  SAMUEL  POTHERGILL.  453. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  AND  SISTER. 

Warrington,  1st  Mo.,  1765. 

I  am,  through  mercy,  in  good  health,  a  cold  excepted, 
which  I  got  in  our  arduous  labour  of  visiting  families  ;  it  is  not 
very  troublesome,  except  when  I  write,  or  should  sleep.  I  am 
content  with  this  indication  of  a  frail  tabernacle,  I  know  it  will 
soon  moulder  to  its  original.  I  am  thankful  the  loins  of  my 
mind  are  girded  up,  at  least  strongly  to  wish  to  run  the  race  suc- 
cessfully, and  finish  in  peace.  I  look  towards  a  release  from 
temporal  concerns  with  increasing  ease ;  I  believe  it  is  quite 
right  I  should  dress  my  wings,  to  take  my  flight  to  the  land 
of  peace,  through  those  paths  of  light  which  may  be  assigned, 
but  not  yet  clearly  unfolded. 

S.  F. 

About  this  lime,  S.  Fothergill  retired  from  business  alto- 
gether. His  trade  was  that  of  a  tea-dealer,  with  which  he 
combined  some  other  articles  ;  and  he  had  occasionally  mer- 
cantile transactions  with  America,  sending  out  thither  manufac- 
tured goods,  and  importing  the  produce  of  that  country. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

Lea  Hall,  6th  Mo.,  28th,  1765. 

. ;  I  am  thankful,  repeatedly  thankful,  for  this 

recess ;  it  was  not  of  my  own  contriving  nor  willing  ;  but  I 
esteem  it  as  I  ought,  a  favourable  prospect  of  escaping  by 
degrees  from  labour  next  to  oppression.  Much  I  owe  to 
the  public,  and  honestly  have  I  endeavoured  to  repay  the 
obligation.  May  they  never  want  persons  better  qualified 
than  myself  to  serve  them.  To  me  the  world  has  not 
frowned  ;  I  courted  not  its  favours,  nor  feared  the  reverse. 
It  is  time,  however,  to  think  of  getting  into  port,  and  as  the 


454 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1765. 


wind  serves,  I  hope  to  make  use  of  it  for  the  best  of  purposes 
' — security. 

I.  F. 

Lea  Hall,  whence  the  foregoing  letter  is  dated,  is  about  three 
miles  from  Middlewich  :  it  was  occupied  by  Dr.  Fothergill  for 
several  years.  His  object  and  wish,  in  thus  occasionally 
secluding  himself,  he  states  in  a  letter  to  his  brother  Samuel, 
written  in  1764. 

"  A  desire  has  of  late  arisen  in  my  mind  to  retreat  for  a 
few  months  next  summer,  into  Cheshire,  and  some  part  of 
the  county  not  far  from  Middlewich  appeared  suitable  ;  I 
wish  by  a  few  months'  recess  to  get  some  time  to  breathe, 
and  to  let  the  dependence  that  many  have  upon  me  here, 
gradually  die  away,  rather  than  break  it  off  abruptly.  I  can 
only  look  for  quiet  in  a  place  where  I  have  no  acquaintance, 
yet  not  too  far  from  those  I  most  love-  If  we  can  procure 
some  respectable  abode,  not  far  from  a  meeting,  in  a  situation 
not  unhealthy,  nor  very  populous,  where  there  is  room  com- 
fortably to  accommodate  my  sister,  myself,  and  four  or  five 
servants,  with  a  bed  or  two  for  our  friends,  I  shall  be  satisfied. 
In  this  part,  there  is  the  forest  (of  Delamere)  on  one  side, 
which  is  but  thinly  inhabited,  and  there  is  a  meeting,  and  I  can 
see  you  all  occasionally." 

In  pursuance  of  this  plan.  Lea  Hall  was  engaged,  and  here 
with  his  sister,  and  frequently  other  relations  and  friends,  he 
Avas  accustomed  to  pass  a  part  of  every  summer,  for  several 
years  ;  enjoying  in  this  retreat,  a  season  of  needful  repose  from 
the  fatigues  of  his  profession.  In  this  retirement  he  had  an 
opportunity,  which  his  incessant  engagements  in  London  did 
not  afford,  of  indulging  in  the  pursuit  of  science,  and  more 
particularly  in  the  study  of  Natural  History,  and  Botany ;  to  these 
he  was  much  attached,  and  in  various  ways  a  munificent  pro- 
moter of  them.  The  place,  though  much  gone  to  decay,  still  bears 
in  its  ancient  garden,  marks  of  his  love  of,  and  taste  in  planting. 


jETAt.  50.] 


OF  SAMUEL  F0THER6ILL. 


455 


One  day  in  each  week  he  attended  at  the  neighboring  town 
of  Middlewich  to  give  gratuitous  advice  to  the  poor. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  12th  Mo.,  10th,  1765. 
My  correspondence  on  your  side  the  water  is  almost 
dropt,  owing  principally  to  my  incapacity  of  sustaining  it  as  I 
could  wish  sometimes,  for  I  am  sure  I  often  feel  the  same  ani- 
mated love  of  the  brethren  extend  itself  towards  the  children  of 
the  Father's  family,  which  was  often  my  crown  of  rejoicing 
when  amongst  you.  But  as  my  engagements  and  labour  be- 
come various  and  diffusive,  ray  mind  necessarily  admits  of  va- 
rious objecis  of  sohcitude,  and  the  individual  is  swallowed  up  in 
the  general.  Thus  I  feel  myself  frequently,  and  am  obhged  to 
postpone  the  offices  of  private  friendship,  to  the  more  urgent  ob- 
ligations of  general  duty.  I  would  not  have  made  so  long  an 
apology  for  my  silence,  had  it  not  been  the  true  slate  of  my 
mind,  and  to  remove  any  apprehensions  of  forgetfulness  or  ne- 
glect of  a  person  and  family  I  remember  with  great  affection, 
and  for  every  branch  whereof  my  spirit  ardently  wishes  every 
happiness.  Dear  friend,  we  are  not  strangers  to  the  commo- 
tions of  your  land,  the  report  whereof  hath  reached  our  ears,  yea, 
and  many  of  our  hearts,  whereby  deep  inward  sympathy,  as  be- 
comes brethren,  has  been  raised,  and  a  secret  strong  travail  be- 
fore the  Lord  of  the  whole  earth,  for  the  preservation  of  his 
family  in  this  dispensation  of  the  hour  and  power  of  darkness, 
which  has  come  upon  many  amongst  you,  and  is  endeavouring 
to  introduce  ruin,  and  desolation,  and  every  evil  work.  In  such 
a  season  as  this,  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  stand  neuter ;  the 
conflicting  powers  of  light  and  darkness,  according  to  their 
prevalence,  enhst  the  spirits  of  the  people  under  their  respective 
banners  ;  some  to  endeavour  to  build  up  and  repair  the  breaches, 
and  to  be  bound  in  heart  to  the  holy  testimony,  and  earnestly 
contend  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints.  Now,  saith 
ray  soul,  "Peace  be  to  thee,  O  Zion,  and  peace  to  thine  helpers ; 


456 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1765. 


atid  may  these  evermore  remember,  it  is  the  Lamb  and  his  fol- 
lowers which  shall  have  the  victory."  Though  this  expression 
may  have  become  trite  by  frequent  repetition,  yet  it  is  a  great, 
instructive  and  important  truth.  Neither  the  most  ardent  zeal 
of  the  cherub  or  the  seraph,  nor  the  sagacity  of  the  living  crea- 
ture, though  full  of  eyes  before  and  behind,  nor  the  strength  of 
the  lion  can  overcome,  unless  the  meekness,  gentleness,  and 
patience  of  the  Lamb,  suffering,  yea  slain,  from  the  foundation 
of  the  world,  have  the  ascendancy,  and  be  diffused  through  all 
our  labour.  A  vivacity  of  mind  which  is  natural,  and  a  solici- 
tude of  mind  for  the  cause  of  Truth  which  is  from  a  higher 
source,  are,  I  believe,  distinguishedly  possessed  by  us  both,  and 
I  feel,  for  myself,  the  absolute  necessity  of  deep  attention  to 
His  direction  who  has  engaged  me  in  his  service,  in  order  to 
experience  him  to  put  forth,  having  reduced  the  creaturely  part 
into  a  humble  dependence  upon  Him,  whose  is  the  power  and 
the  wisdom.  We  are  now,  my  friend,  arrived  at  a  date  of  life 
when  the  fierte  which  attends  youth  may,  by  the  laws  of  na- 
ture, be  supposed  to  abate,  and  cool,  deliberative  wisdom,  con- 
firmed by  experience  and  long  observation,  take  its  place  ;  and 
I  hope  we  have  not  so  lived  and  laboured,  as  to  be  destitute  of 
a  portion  of  Divine  wisdom,  to  correct  the  mistakes  and  inadver- 
tencies into  which  we  may  have  hurried  in  past  time,  which  I 
acknowledge  with  regard  to  myself  have  been  various.  Oh  that 
our  minds  may  sufficiently  cleave  unto  that  Hand  of  power, 
which  will  effectually  convert  us  from  every  error  in  judgment 
and  practice,  and  then  properly  enable  us  to  strengthen  our  bre- 
thren. Dear  friend,  I  beseech  thee,  by  the  mercies  of  God, 
(whereof  thouhast  largely  partaken,)  abide  in  the  quiet  habitation, 
whose  safety  and  beauty  thou  hast  often  beheld,  and  desired  thy 
portion  in  it.  Let  neither  the  commotions  without,  nor  defec- 
tion within  carry  thee  away  from  the  quiet  rest ;  a  greater  de- 
gree of  fitness  and  wisdom  to  act  rightly,  when  necessary  in  both, 
will  be  hereby  attained.  I  feel  inexpressibly  a  sympathy  of 
spirit  -with  Friends  in  your  parts  ;  the  faithful  and  unfaithful 


^TAT.  50.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


457 


are  the  companions  of  my  mind  almost  incessantly;  to  the 
former,  I  wish  that  wisdom  and  knowledge  may  become  the 
stability  of  their  times  ;  for  the  latter,  that,  through  the  prudence 
patience,  tender  compassion,  and  steadiness  of  the  faithful,  they 
may  be  restored  upon  the  proper  foundation,  and  the  holy  testi- 
mony preserved  inviolate.  I  have  need  to  apologize  for  my 
freedom  in  thus  expressing  the  feelings  and  ardent  wishes  of  my 
mind  towards  thee,  for  whom  I  retain  the  longings  of  heart  that 
friendship  of  the  highest  kind  inspires  ;  a  similarity  of  natural 
disposition  begets  a  peculiar  attention,  united  in  wishes  for  the 
prosperity  of  the  great  and  mighty  cause  of  religion  and  virtue. 
May  we  both  seek  the  only  means  to  obtain  our  wishes,  and 
never  be  the  means  of  defeating,  by  our  haste  or  imprudence, 
the  end  we  professedly  and  really  aim  at.  With  a  heart  re- 
plenished with  near  affection  and  sympathy,  I  remember,  and 
often  in  spirit  visit,  thy  dear  wife,  my  beloved  friend ;  I  have 
often  essayed  to  write  to  her,  but  my  feelings  baffled  expression. 
Heaven's  peculiar  favourites  are  often  the  most  tried,  that  they 
may  be  rendered  perfect,  lacking  nothing,  and  shining  examples 
of  every  Christian  virtue  to  others.  Salute  her  in  my  name, 
and  assure  her  of  my  tender  and  affectionate  sympathy  and  re- 
membrance. As  to  my  health,  it  has  for  divers  years  been  pre- 
carious ;  something  of  a  gouty  nature,  but  not  the  disorder  re- 
gularly. I  have  been  confined  eleven  weeks,  and  have  scarcely 
strength  to  walk  five  minutes  ;  yet  I  am  slowly  recovering,  but 
very  feeble ;  this  has  been  the  labour  of  almost  a  day,  my  hand 
being  too  weak  to  write  many  lines  at  once. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  JOHN. 

Warrington,  12th  Mo.,  16th,  1765. 

 I  lately  rode  as  far  as   Congleton,  to  the 

funeral  of  a  person  who  had  some  relation  to  the  Society, 
though  not  strictly  a  member  ;  the  journey  was  of  use  to  me, 
59 


458 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1765. 


for  I  travelled  slowly.  I  was  much  favoured,  amongst  a  multi- 
tude of  people,  of  various  ranks  ;  and  humbly  thankful  I  am  for 
every  instance  of  merciful  regard  extended  to  my  own  spirit, 
and  the  gracious  extendings  of  Heavenly  help  to  others.  I  feel 
time  to  slide  away  apace ;  little  of  it  seems  before  me,  until  it 
change  its  name  to  eternity. 

I  am  now  just  returned  from  paying  the  last  solemn  act  of 
friendship  to  the  memory  and  remains  of  our  mutual  valuable 
friend,  Joseph  Hobson,*  who  was  yesterday  interred.  His 
death  was  occasioned  by  lying  in  a  damp  bed  a  few  weeks  ago. 
A  very  great  number  attended  the  solemn  occasion,  and  the 
voice  of  the  people  proclaimed  him  a  valuable,  good  man ;  I 
never  saw  a  person  more  regretted  ;  the  eminent  overshadow- 
ing of  the  Father  of  spirits  gave  room  to  hope  human  approba- 
tion is  not  his  sole  happiness.    I  have  heard  also  of  the  decease 
of  our  worthy  friend,  David  Coulson.    I  need  not  enlarge  upon 
this  breach  into  the  near  circle  of  our  mutual  friends  and  ac- 
quaintance ;  neither,  indeed,  doth  the  present  collected  state  of 
my  mind  allow  of  much  expression  : — I  feel  more  than  I  can 
write,  and  the  bare  account  is  sufficient  to  awaken  and  quicken 
every  proper  sentiment  and  resolution  in  thy  mind.  Others 
will  soon,  very  soon,  write  the  mournful  account  of  our  removal ! 
Oh,  may  our  minds  receive  the  proper  instruction,  and  be  re- 
newed in  necessary  assiduity,  that  our  example  and  close  may 
be  happily  instructive.    Mav  the  work  be  accomplished,  when 
the  awful  summons  comes  :  I  hope  my  whole  heart  is  renew- 
edly  bent  in  fresh  ardour  to  attain  this  important  and  most  inte- 
resting prize.    The  situation  of  my  health  is  comfortable,  a  con- 
stant soreness  and  weakness  in  my  feet  excepted  ;  however,  I 
am  content  and  thankful,  in  an  humbling  sense  that  best  health 
is  renewed  at  times  ;  and  I  wish  no  more,  here  nor  hereafter, 
than  Heavenly  regard. 

S.  F. 


•  Of  Macclesfield. 


iETAT.  50.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


459 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOSEPH  BAKER,  Jun., 
(OF  Warrington.)* 

1766? 

A  degree  of  anxious  concern  for  thee  induces  me  thus 
to  address  thee,  and,  from  the  warmth  of  an  affectionate  heart, 
to  open  something  for  thy  consideration,  to  which  tiiy  temporal 
and  eternal  welfare  require  thy  attention.  Notwithstanding 
many  of  our  youth,  and  thyself  among  others,  have  despised 
the  simplicity  of  a  plain  appearance,  like  Friends,  yet  I  am  sa- 
tisfied, from  the  neglect  of  that  distinction  being  maintained, 
they  and  thou  have  been  laid  open  to  the  inducements  of  that 
destroying  enemy  who  hath  great  power  over  the  inhabitants  of 
the  earth,  and  then  have  leaned  to  an  earthly  spirit.  Thou  hast 
fatally  found  the  truth  of  this  remark  :  If  thou  hadst  appeared 
like  a  religious,  sober  Friend,  those  companions  who  have  ex- 
ceedingly wounded  thee  durst  not  have  attempted  to  frequent 
thy  company.  Thou  seest  Henry  Fothergill  ;  his  conduct  and 
appearance  are  consistent  and  sober  ;  none  of  those  wicked 
young  men  dare  approach  him,  such  is  the  dignity  of  religion, 
and  its  superiority  over  vice  and  folly.  I  mention  him,  not 
from  any  partial  regard  for  him  as  my  kinsman,  but  as  a  person 
I  have  had  frequent  opportunities  to  remark.  Thou  knowest 
the  esteem  he  has  justly  obtained,  his  usefulness  in  his  father's 
family,  and  that  he  is  more  justly  honoured  than  I  think  any 
young  man  in  town.  I  mention  him,  not  to  upbraid  thee,  but 
to  intreat  thee ;  his  manners  are  virtuous,  his  mind  serene  and 
peaceful ;  the  contrary,  thy  own  experience  will  tell  thee,  hath 
been  thy  lot,  and  it  results  from  a  conduct  opposite  to  his  ;  ne- 
vertheless, I  am  persuaded  the  regard  of  Divine  Providence  is 
not  totally  withdrawn  from  thee  ;  his  mercy  is  extended  to  reco- 
ver thee,  as  from  the  gates  of  hell,  and  pluck  thee  as  a  brand 
out  of  the  fire.    My  concern  for  thee,  the  kind  reception  thou 


•  He  died  at  Penketh,  2d  Mo.,  1809. 


I 


460  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1766, 

I 

hast  met  witli  at  ,  and  the  dispositions  of  the  worthy  friends  \ 

there  in  receiving  thee,  are  to  me  proofs  of  the  interposition  of  j 
a  providential  hand  yet  stretched  out  to  save  ;  and  these  things 
ought  to  be  humbly  marvellous  in  thy  eyes,  and  induce  thee  to 
walk  answerably  to  the  favours  received.    I  earnestly  wish  thee 
to  abstain  from  any  company  that  may  be  improper  ;  thy  resolu-  i 
lions  are  weak  ;  the  poison  of  evil  company  very  ruinous  ;  if  ' 
thou  hast  no  other  inducement  to  alter  thy  dress,  I  beseech  thee  ] 
to  do  it,  to  keep  the  distinction  our  principles  lead  to,  and  to 
separate  thee  from  fools  and  fops  ;  at  the  same  time  that,  by  a  ! 
prudent  distinction  in  thy  appearance,  thou  scatterest  awa)'  those 
that  are  the  bane  of  youth,  thou  wilt  engage  the  attention  of 
those  whose  company  will  be  profitable  and  honourable  to  thee. 

Thus,  dear  friend,  my  heart  longs  for  thee  and  for  thy  help, 
that  thou  mayest  improve  the  present  providential  allotment  to 
the  best  purpose,  that  it  may  be  of  lasting  advantage  to  thee . 
It  will  be  good  for  thee  to  bear  the  yoke  in  thy  youth  ;  if  thy  , 
mind  be  rightly  subjected  to  it,  thou  mayest  have  cause  to  say, 
It  was  good  for  me  that  I  was  troubled.    I  beseech  thee  often 
to  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  remember  the  prodigal  son,  and 
imitate  his  penitent  example,  and  the  same  gracious  reception  from 
the  Everlasting  Father  will  be  thy  portion.    With  what  joy  would 
thy  anxious  parent,  thy  affectionate  sister,  view  thee  reformed, 
steady,  and  prudent  ;  but  if  (which  God  forbid)  thou  shouldest 
slight  this  providential  opportunity  of  retrieving  thyself,  and  j 
relapse  into  those  things  which  have  hitherto  ministered  much  I 
to  thy  hurt,  and  if  continued  in,  must  effect  thy  total  ruin,  liovv 
shall  I  meet  those  friends  to  whose  care  I  have  been  instru- 
mental in  committing  thee  ?    And  what  will  be  the  sentence 
from  despised  mercy  ?    I  am  shocked  at  the  mere  supposition  ; 
but  what  must  be  the  suffering   of  such  a  state  ?  Dear 
Joseph,  what  shall  I  say?  what  can  I  say,  that  will  tend  to  ' 
thy  help,  but  earnestly  press  thee  to  seek  Him  who  is  mighty  ' 
to  save,  and  to  whom  Jonah  cried  out  of  the  belly  of  hell  ?  I 
Cherish  every  impression  of  good  ;  place  thyself  frequently  | 


^TAT.  50.] 


OF   SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


461 


before  that  tremendous  bar,  to  which  thou  art  hastening,  and 
bring  every  thought  and  action  to  judgment ;  be  dihgent  and 
faithful  in  business,  but,  above  all,  be  dihgent  in  making  pro- 
vision for  thy  poor  soul.  Farewell. 

S.  F. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  6th  Mo.,  lOlh,  1766. 

The  enclosed  is  from  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  and 
1  apprehend  it  relates  to  the  convinceraent  of  a  person  high  in 
her  esteem,  and  a  kind  of  recommendation  of  her  to  thy  notice. 
I  am  informed  that  this  is  no  sudden  start,  but  has  been  gradu- 
ally ripening  some  time.  The  Countess  saw  her  friend  engaged, 
and  went  with  her  to  the  meeting  the  first  time  she  gave  up  to 
join  the  Society.  This  circumstance,  I  mean  the  convincement 
of  a  person  so  peculiarly  situated,  will,  no  doubt,  become  the 
subject  of  much  conversation,  at  least  amongst  ourselves,  and  I 
think  we  ought,  as  much  as  possible,  to  restrain  the  imprudent 
amongst  us  from  acting  imprudently.  Thou  will  impart  this  to 
nobody ;  let  the  account  spread  by  other  means,  not  by  ours  : 
it  is  a  lesson  we  ought  to  profit  by,  not  to  amuse  ;  a  simple, 
upright  devotion  of  heart  to  do  the  will  of  Him,  whom  to  serve 
is  our  interest  and  happiness.  Great  example  !  let  us  follow  it ; 
and  those  who  do  it  most,  will  say  the  least  about  it.  In  dress, 
in  conduct,  she  studies  simplicity  :  perhaps,  in  the  guise  of  zeal, 
an  enemy  may  steal  in,  but  the  integrity  of  her  heart  will,  I  trust, 
befriend  her.  I  know  her  not ;  I  know  some  of  her  family  : 
her  husband  allows  her  a  sufficient  support,  so  that  interest  has 
no  share.  About  Brightelmstone,  where  she  now  is,  there  are 
a  large  number  of  those  called  Methodists,  many  of  whom  are 
dissatisfied  where  they  are  ;  if  they  follow  on  to  know,  whether 
they  join  us  or  not,  they  will  be  happy. 

We  were  glad  of  thy  safe  arrival  at  home,  and  received  thy 
kind  intimations  with  the  affection  they  deserve.    If  they  pro- 


462 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1766. 


duce  the  fruits  thou  wishes,  they  will  be  to  our  mutual  happi- 
ness, and  our  own  peculiar  advantage.  Create  in  me  a  right 
spirit,  renew  a  clean  heart,  is  oft  my  wish  ;  1  know  these  are  not 
the  words  as  they  stand,  but  I  want  to  know  the  full  completion. 

When  I  tell  thee  that  this  is  written  after  the  incessant  labour 
of  seventeen  hours,  thou  wilt  readily  excuse  its  defects,  and, 
think  me,  however  weak,  yet  not  wholly  without  a  claim  to  the 
title  of  thy  affectionate  brother, 

John  Fothergill. 

In  the  7lh  Month,  1766,  Susanna  Fothergill  again  paid  a  reli- 
gious visit  to  Scotland  ;  she  was  accompanied  by  Joseph  Ilar- 
wood,  of  Manchester,  also  a  minister.  Near  the  close  of  ihe 
year,  her  husband  was  engaged  on  a  religious  visit  to  Friends 
of  London.  Whilst  in  that  city,  he  was  seized  with  an  illness 
which  obliged  him  to  relinquish  his  engagement,  and  retire  to 
his  brother's  country  house  at  Upton  ;  where,  under  the  care  of 
his  sister,  he  was  confined  for  some  time. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  10th  Mo.,  18th,  1766. 

I  have  been  to  Nottingham,  and  went  by  Manchester, 
where  I  found  brother  Isaac  Crewdson  very  much  indisposed, 
and  every  symptom  of  approaching  dissolution,  which  ensued  last 
first  day  night.  I  was  at  his  burial  on  fourth-day  ;  it  was  large, 
and  the  opportunity  was  a  favoured  one.  1  cannot  but  regret 
his  loss,  though  I  fully  believe  his  removal  is  a  happy  exchange, 
and  agreeable  to  his  own  last  intelligible  words,  "  To  rest,  to 
rest,  for  evermore."  What  more  desirable,  my  dear  sister,  than 
such  an  issue  of  our  pilgrimage  !  May  our  minds  be  exerted  to 
pursue  this  glorious  mark,  with  a  diligence  proportioned  in  some 
degree  to  its  unspeakable  value.  The  circle  of  our  acquaint- 
ance is  almost  daily  invaded,  and  we,  also,  shall  soon  furnish 


iETAT.  50.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  463 

the  opportunity  or  occasion  of  instruction,  now  almost  daily  put 

inio  our  hands  How  safe  is  diffidence,  even  if  obtained 

through  chastisement  for  error  ! 

I  am,  through  mercy,  bravely,  my  hand  excepted,  which  is 
still  sometimes  weak,  and  often  painful,  but  I  am  content  and 
thankful.  I  have  more  good  than  I  have  merited,  and  less 
affliction  than  is  justly  due. 

You  are  returned  to  the  trammels  again,  I  believe  with  re- 
luctance ;  you  can  taste  the  sweets  of  retirement  with  pleasure, 
and  dare  be  alone  with  yourselves.  I  hope  never  to  result  in 
indolence,  but  my  love  increases  to  solitude  ;  not  that  I  dislike 
converse  with  mankind,  but  I  am  very  desirous  to  improve  it 
■with  something  I  at  times  feel  in  myself.  The  silent,  solemn 
step  of  time  advanccth  fast,  and  carries  us  along  with  it,  to  a 
place  whence  there  is  no  return,  to  do  or  undo.  May  it  become 
our  chief  concern — nay,  I  hope  it  is,  and  may  we  retain  it— to 
have  our  accounts  in  readiness ;  and  even  then,  mercy,  not 
merit  of  ours,  must  be  the  ground  of  our  hope  in  the  ordinance 
of  peace. 

 Lively  are  my  desires  for  all  our  safety  and  establish- 
ment ;  desires  wherein  I  know  thou  joins  me,  with  an  ardent 
mind  ;  we  have  ground  of  hope  that  He  who  hath  wrought  the 
will,  will  also  enable  to  do,  as  we  cleave  to  him  in  simplicity 
and  uprightness.  But  how  much  goes  to  constitute  the  cha- 
racter of  vpright !  There  is  so  great  a  mystery  of  iniquity  in 
the  transformations  of  seemingly  laudable  self,  that  I  look  upon 
it  as  the  crown  of  true  Christianity,  and  to  exceed  all  the  beauty 
of  visibles,  whether  respecting  religion  or  this  world,  to  obtain 
this  character. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  CATHERINE  PAYTON. 

Warrington,  3d  Mo.,  25th,  1767. 

 With  thee,  my  dear  Friend  and  sister  in  the 

pure  Truth,  I  am  more  sympathetically  united  ;  as  my  own,  I 


464 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1767. 


tender  thy  good,  and  preservation  through  the  various  vicissi- 
situdes  of  thy  passage,  whether  relative  to  the  temporal  or  spiri- 
tual probations  which  may  be  assigned  thee,  in  either  relation. 
Thou  hast  in  many  trials  found  the  all-sufficiency  of  the  divine 
Hand ;  and  we  have  nothing  else  to  rely  upon,  equal  to  the  la- 
bour of  the  day.  He  who  rides  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind, 
in  his  triumphant  glory,  dwells  in  the  lowest  valley  of  humilia- 
tion, and  is  there  more  sensibly  experienced  to  sustain  in  every 
stripping,  than  distinctly  discovered  when  he  makes  the  clouds 
his  chariot.  I  have,  of  later  times,  been  very  deeply  exercised, 
and  often  in  the  most  stripped  poverty.  I  have,  as  yet,  seen 
nothing  clearly,  respecting  public  service  which  may  be  required 
and  this  humbling  season  preparatory  to  it — but  so  it  is  ;  and 
may  my  Heavenly  Father's  will  be  done,  and  issue  in  a  still 
more  enlarged  degree  of  sanctification,  though  I  wear  sackcloth 
on  my  loins  until  I  am  clothed  upon  from  heaven  with  the  gar- 
ments of  immortality. 

 And  now,  my  dear  friend,  in  the  sense  of  that  con- 
descending goodness  which  hath  mercifully  favoured  us,  in  call- 
ing us  out  of  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light,  and  hath  joined 
us  to  all  the  living,  and  been  as  our  song  and  our  strength  ;  who 
has  fed  us  with  food,  and  remembered  us  in  tender  mercy — my 
spirit  salutes  thee  ;  with  earnest  breathing  for  our  preservation 
and  increase  in  holiness  and  sanctification,  that  He  who  has 
called  us  may  be  honoured  by  us,  and  we,  finally,  honoured 
with  him. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ISRAEL  PEMBERTON. 

Warrington,  4th  Mo.,  1st,  1767. 

 My  affection  remains  undiminished.    I  love 

you  all  tenderly,  and  with  equal  solicitude  desire  your  es- 
sential happiness,  as  when  my  leisure  and  bent  of  mind 
allowed  me  more  frequent  opportunities  and  occasions  of 
telling  you  so.  My  health  hath  been  precarious,  or  rather 
below  that,  generally  impaired ;    and  though  my  mental 


^TAT.  52.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


465 


facukics  may  not  be  much  affecled,  the  corporeal  powers  seem 
not  likely  to  continue  to  advanced  years.  My  principal  com- 
plaint is  a  weakness  and  pain  in  my  right  hand  ;  I  believe,  owing 
to  a  fall  from  my  horse  several  years  ago.  I  cannot  write  much 
without  respite,  and  this  often  breaks  the  chain  of  sentiment 
and  sensation,  which  I  ever  wish  to  be  the  soul  of  my  corres- 
pondence. For  though  I  am  often  poor  and  debilitated,  both  in 
body  and  spirit,  I  feel  an  ardent  desire  to  be  preserved  alive  in 
the  best  things.  My  affection  for  Friends  in  Philadelphia  is 
strong,  and  often  of  late  revives  with  great  animation.  I  run 
from  house  to  house  with  sympathy  ;  I  rejoice  with  the  few  who 
can  properly  rejoice ;  I  mourn  with  the  many  who  pensively 
muse  on  the  roll  written  within  and  without — Mourning,  lamen- 
tation, and  woe  !  What  further  respects  you  and  me  is  at  pre- 
sent behind  the  veil.  My  dear  wife  is  cheerful,  and  not  desti- 
tute of  best  health  :  that  thine  hath  been  favoured  with  health, 
is  a  pleasing  account ;  I  love  her  tenderly,  and  wish  the  con- 
summation of  every  desire  she  forms  for  her  own  and  others' 
good.    Thine  in  undiminished  regard  and  affection, 

S.  F. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  12th  Mo.,  10th,  1767. 

 Samuel  Emlen  is  here  ;  a  reputation  to  his  country, 

a  help  to  society,  the  pattern  of  innocence,  wisdom,  and  sim- 
plicity. 

 I  hope  gradually  to  lessen  both  my  business  and  all 

other  incumbrances.  I  have  been  preserved  through  many 
dangers,  and  my  life  mercifully  prolonged  to  this  lime  ;  and 
it  is  not  the  least  of  the  favours  that  I  have  to  acknowledge,  that 
I  am  kept,  in  a  degree,  alive  to  gratitude. 

 Do  not  regard  the  expense  ;  at  our  time  of  life,  two 

years  of  exemption  from  great  inconveniences  are  not  to  be  va- 
lued at  a  low  rate.  Had  we  children  dependent  upon  us,  other 
60 


466 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1768. 


considerations  might  justly  take  place.  In  the  course  of  Pro- 
vidence, it  is  so  ordered  that  we  have  none  to  look  up  to  us, 
and  call  us  Father — an  exemption  from  numberless  anxieties. 
It  is  then,  but  justice  that  we  use  the  favours  of  Providence 
granted  to  us,  whether  the  fruits  of  our  own  industry,  or,  by  a 
more  special  favour,  of  easy  inheritance,  to  the  proper  purposes 
— for  our  own  accommodation  according  to  the  station  in  which 
we  are  placed,  the  benefit  of  the  community  in  general,  and  of 
our  brethren  in  particular.  I.  F. 

SAMUEL  rOTHERGILL  TO  SAMUEL  EMLEN. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  1st,  1768. 

Thy  acceptable  favour  of  the  19th  of  last  month  came 
safe  to  hand  in  course,  and  I  had  sooner  acknowledged  it,  had 
not  an  event,  daily  expected  for  two  weeks,  suspended  my  wri- 
ting till  I  saw  the  issue.  Our  worthy  friend  and  kinsman,  Gil- 
bert Thompson,  hath  been  in  a  declining  state  for  some  time, 
and  of  late  seemed  to  decay  so  very  fast  as  to  call  in  question 
his  surviving  for  one  day.  He  finished  his  course  about  mid- 
night, last  6th  day,  and  is  to  be  interred  to-morrow.  I  have  often 
been  with  him  to  my  humbling  instruction  ;  for  some  time  his 
journeying  was  in  the  region  of  the  shadow  of  death.  I  have 
sate  by  him,  accompanied  his  spirit  under  the  load  of  death, 
and  the  heavens  as  brass,  sensible  of  deep  distress,  but  seem- 
ingly excluded  from  good  :  this  led  to  deep  searching  of  heart, 
even,  as  he  said,  of  holes  and  of  corners  he  had  not  suspected  ; 
he  saw  that  he  had  been  short  in  the  performance  of  that  ser- 
vice Truth  would  have  led  him  into,  had  he  been  fully  de- 
dicated in  heart  to  know  and  to  do  his  Master's  will  ;  but 
adorable  condescension  visited  afresh,  revived  a  degree  of  hope, 
fed  him  with  a  little  bread  when  nigh  to  faint,  and  caused  a 
part  of  that  crystal  stream,  which  is  the  satisfaction  and  conso- 
lation of  the  whole  city  of  God,  to  arise  in  his  soul,  and  it  in- 
creased from  to  time,  until  it  became  like  the  water  Ezekiel 
saw  issuing  out  from  the  threshold,  in  time  a  river  to  swim 


^TAT.  52.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  467 

in,  a  river  that  cannot  be  passed.  The  holy  canopy  was  often 
over  our  spirits  when  I  visited  him,  which  I  often  did  to  my  com- 
fort :  I  never,  my  dear  friend,  so  fully  understood  the  force  of 
the  expression,  "  If  the  righteous  scarcely  are  saved  :" — the  ap- 
plause and  esteem  of  judicious  and  injudicious,  regularity  of  con- 
duct, his  arrival  at  Bethel,  the  remembrance  of  many  bedewing 
seasons,  all  proved  insufBcient  for  his  repose,  and  were  amongst 
the  heavens  that  might  be  shaken,  and  must  be  removed,  that 
that  which  cannot  be  shaken  may  remain. 

He  languished  long,  in  much  pain  ;  great  was  the  conflict  pre- 
vious to  the  separation  of  body  and  soul,  and  it  feelingly  open- 
ed to  my  mind,  with  the  conviction  of  an  audible  voice,  had  his 
spirit  been  more  disentangled  from  the  love  of  lawful  things,  his 
warfare  would  have  been  sooner  accomplished,  the  fetters  of 
mortality  more  easily  broken,  and  his  spirit  would  sooner  have 
risen  triumphant  over  death,  hell,  and  the  grave,  and  on  the  wings 
of  seraphic  love  ascended,  with  holy  ease,  to  the  realms  of  purity, 
peace,  and  love.  But  all  is  well — he  is  admitted  to  peace,  and 
through  his  deep  wadings,  instruction  is  given  to  us,  with  dili- 
gence, yea  with  all  diligence,  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  revealed 
duty,  and  to  stand  on  the  watch  for  further  discoveries,  what  is 
the  will  of  the  Lord  our  God  respecting  us.  1  may  have  been 
too  prolix  on  the  subject — but  oh  ! — my  heart  is  full — fuller 
than  to  obtain  adequate  vent  by  my  pen. 

I  heard  of  thy  being  in  London ;  it  gave  me  pleasure  ;  may  the 
Lord  preserve  thee  to  the  end,  in  powerfully  preserving  simplici- 
ty, and  direct  all  thy  steps  to  peace.  I  cannot  at  present  set  thee 
at  liberty  to  leave  England  ;  I  feel  something  thatdesires  thy  lon- 
ger stay,  and  I  think  it  is  something  more  weighty  than  the  mere 
dictates  of  natural  affection.  I  have  little  prospect  of  much  ab- 
sence during  this  or  the  next  month ;  I  believe  it  would  tend  to  the 
confirmation  of  my  health,  now  through  mercy  pretty  well  re- 
stored, could  I  spare  two  or  three  weeks  to  stay  at  Bristol  ;  but 
much  rests  upon  me  by  the  removal  of  Gilbert  Thompson.  His 
place,  as  Clerk  of  the  Monthly  Meeting,  devolves  on  Henry 


468 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1768. 


Folhergill,  who,  I  hope,  grows  in  ihe  best  things,  and  will  come 
up  in  service.    Oh,  that  I  could  have  the  same  hope  for  his 

oflen-visiled  and  highly  favoured  sister  S  ! 

Need  I  add,  1  should  be  rejoiced  to  see  thee  here,  as  soon  as 
is  easy  to  thyself ;  here  is  some  work  to  do;  we  have  in  pros- 
pect a  visit  to  Friends  in  their  families. 

S.  F. 

Gilbert  Thompson,  whose  last  days  are,  in  the  preceding 
letter,  so  powerfully  and  pathetically  described,  was  the  son  of 
Gilbert  Thompson,  mentioned  at  page  11  ;  he  assisted,  and  af- 
terwards succeeded,  his  father,  as  master  of  the  school  at  Pen- 
kelh,  over  which  he  presided  for  nearly  forty  years  with  much 
repution.  He  was  a  Friend  greatly  esteemed,  and  very  useful  in 
the  Society  ;  he  was  in  the  station  of  elder,  and  filled  several 
other  offices.  Yet  it  appears  from  this  letter,  and  from  other  al- 
lusions made  to  him,  that  he  had  not  yielded  so  full  an  obe- 
dience as  he  ought,  to  that  which  the  Lord  had  required  at  his 
hands,  and  that  if  he  had  made  a  more  full  surrender  of  all  his 
talents,  and  had  more  fully  kept  that  which  he  once  possessed 
it  would  have  yielded  him  more  peace  at  last ;  great,  indeed, 
was  the  conflict  through  which  he  had  to  pass.  He  died  at 
Penkelh,  Isl  Mo.,  29lh,  1768,  aged  68  years. 

Henry  Fothergill,  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  letter,  to 
succeed  G.  Thompson  as  Clerk  of  Hardshaw  Monthly  Meet- 
ing, was  the  nephew  of  Samuel  Fothergill,  being  the  only 
son  of  his  brother  Joseph.  On  the  death  of  his  father,  in 
1761,  the  care  of  the  business  and  of  the  family  devolved 
upon  Henry,  then  25  years  of  age  :  these  duties  he  dis- 
charged faithfully  and  affectionately  ;  to  his  six  sisters,  all 
younger  than  himself,  his  care  was  truly  paternal.  He  was, 
from  his  early  youth,  of  an  innocent,  cheerful  disposition, 
quiet  and  studious  ;  he  possessed  good  abilities,  had  made 
proficiency  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  and  had  a 
natural  taste  for  poetry  and  drawing.  As  he  advanced  to 
manhood,  he  increased  in  seriousness  of  character,  was  of  a 
grave  and  solid  deportment,  and  of  exemplary  life  and  con- 


iETAT.  52.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  4G9 

versalion.  He  was  kind  and  helpful  to  all,  and  gave  great  pro- 
mise of  becoming  very  useful  in  civil  and  religious  society  ;  but 
his  health  failed  ;  he  was  attacked  with  rapid  consumption,  and, 
after  an  illness  of  a  few  weeks,  he  departed  this  life  at  Warring- 
ton, on  the  15lh  of  5th  month,  1769,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
three  years. 

The  following  account  of  his  last  illness  was  di'awn  up  by 
his  sisters,  who  attended  upon  him  with  affectionate  and  anxious 
solicitude. 

As  the  memory  of  our  beloved  and  truly  valuable  brother, 
Henry  Fothergill,  must  ever  be  precious  to  his  near  friends,  we 
think  it  desirable  to  record  some  particulars,  that  (we  hope)  have 
made  a  lasting  impression  upon  our  minds,  who  were  with  him 
during  his  illness  and  last  moments,  that  those  allied  to  him  may 
reap  the  advantage  of  his  truly  Christian  example,  and  follow  his 
footsteps ;  for  we  are  assured  they  led  to  peace. 

In  the  beginning  of  his  illness,  he  had  many  deep  and  pain 
ful  conflicts,  and  was  very  desirous,  if  it  pleased  the  Almighty, 
that  he  might  be  restored  to  health.  But  that  Power  that  knew 
the  innocence,  the  integrity,  and  uprightness  of  his  heart,  after 
deep  trials  and  searchings,  was  pleased  to  set  his  mind  at  liberty, 
and  give  him  an  earnest  that  all  would  be  well.  Oh,  may  we 
never  forget  with  what  calmness  and  resignation  he  looked  for- 
ward towards  that  blessed  hope  that  maketh  not  ashamed. 

For  some  weeks  he  was  perfectly  sensible  that  he  should  not 
be  long  here,  and  once  said,  "  he  could  not  look  beyond  five 
weeks,  and  perhaps  his  time  might  be  a  good  deal  shorter,  but 
he  was  quite  easy,"  and  often  tenderly  desired  his  sisters  not  to 
afflict  themselves.  One  of  our  brothers-in-law  coming  over  to 
see  him,  he  was  much  pleased,  and  spoke  many  comfortable 
things.  He  said  that,  for  more  than  a  year  past  he  had  a  sense 
upon  his  mind  that  he  should  not  live  long ;  and  the  words  that 
were  sent  to  good  king  Hezekiah  frequently  passed  through  his 
mind,  "  Set  thine  house  in  order,  for  thou  shalt  die,  and  not 
live  ;"  and  added,  he  hoped  his  house  was  in  order,  both  in- 


470 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1769. 


wardly  and  outwardly,  and  lliat  he  liad  nothing  to  do  but  to 
pray  for  an  easy  passage.  Seeing  his  sisters  greatly  affected, 
he  cheerfully  said,  "  Do  not  afflict  yourselves,  I  hope  Provi- 
dence will  care  for  you,  and  that  he  will  be  your  God,  as  he 
hath  been  mine."  The  inexpressible  sweetness  and  innocence 
that  accompanied  his  mind,  particularly  during  the  last  week  of 
liis  life,  was  highly  consolatory,  and  though  he  had  little  ab- 
sences and  wanderings,  the  solemnity  of  his  spirit  was  easily  fell; 
he  frequently,  in  the  night,  was  quite  melodious,  and  once  par- 
ticularly broke  into  expression,  and  said  (as  though  speaking  to 
himself,)  "  I  have  many  amiable  engagements,  but  I  must  leave 
them ;  I  cannot  stay,  and  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
who  has  removed  these  things." 

Four  days  before  he  died,  he  was  much  altered,  and  seemed 
to  take  little  notice  of  any  thing  in  this  world.  As  he  sat  in  his 
chair,  with  all  that  heavenly  sweetness  and  serenity  that  was  with 
him  to  the  last,  his  voice,  which  was  greatly  broken  and  inward 
before,  was  suddenly  exalted ;  and  he  said,  with  a  kind  of  tri- 
umphant melody — "  When,  oh,  my  soul,  shall  thou  enter  into 
rest ;  where  peace  and  everlasting  gladness  shall  be  thy  portion  ?" 
But  no  language  can  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  sweet  seren- 
ity of  his  countenance.  The  following  morning  he  came  down 
stairs,  but  was  so  much  worse  that  he  was  soon  carried  up  again, 
and  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day  he  seemed  to  be  very  deep  in  his 
mind,  and  to  feel  more  perturbation  of  spirit  than  we  had  ever 
before  perceived  ;  at  length  he  broke  out  into  lamentation,  and 
seemed  greatly  agitated,  saying — "  I  do  not  feel  that  virtue  to 
arise  in  my  mind  I  used  to  feel,  and  the  pillars  of  my  house  are 
shaken,  and  I  may  go  to  the  land  of  darkness."  One  of  his 
sisters,  against  whom  his  head  was  leaned,  deeply  affected,  said, 
"  No,  my  dear  brother,  if  thou  be  removed  from  us,  it  will  (I 
believe)  be  to  aland  of  light."  He  said — "Oh  sister!  thou  dost 
not  know  what  I  feel,  but  pray  for  me  !  pray  for  me,  sisters ;" 
and  clasping  his  hands  together,  he  fervently  uttered — "  My 
God  !  my  God !"  The  solemn  appeal  was,  we  believe, 
accepted,  and  after  some  pause,  he  said — "  There  is  a  house 


^TAT.  52.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


471 


whose  pillars  arc  immoveable,  let  us  lay  fast  hold  on  their 
bases."  He  continued  sweetly  serene,  now  and  then  uttering 
an  articulate  word,  which  showed  his  conversation  was  in 
heaven;  he  frequently  repeated,  in  a  low  voice — "  Deep  unto 
deep  utters,  deep  unto  deep  utters."  On  first  day,  he  was 
extremely  weak  in  body,  and  we  thought  he  was  going,  but  he 
again  revived  a  little,  and  expressed  great  affection  for  his  sisters. 
The  following  evening,  being  the  15th  of  the  5th  Month, 
1769,  he  was  very  desirous  to  be  got  to  bed,  which  was  con- 
trary to  his  usual  incUnation  ;  he  was  placed  there  about  eight 
o'clock,  when  a  fresh  eruption  from  the  lungs  came  on,  to  a 
great  extent,  which  totally  subdued  his  small  remaining  strength 
In  that  awful  hour,  the  only  alleviation  of  our  deep  sorrow  [was 
to  see  him  quite  still ;  and,  after  several  limes  repeating,  with 
great  fervour — "  Lord  God  Almighty  !"  he  continued  about  half 
an  hour,  and  though  the  difficulty  of  his  breathing  was  great, 
he  expired  without  a  struggle,  and  is  gone,  we  trust,  to  endless 
felicity  and  peace."  "  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous," 
and  may  our  life  be  like  unto  his,  which  can  only  entitle  us  to 
hope  for  the  same  happy  conclusion. 

The  following  "  Reflections  on  Death"  were  found  amongst 
his  papers,  after  his  decease : — 

Oh  death,  how  awful  is  even  the  remembrance  of  thee,  at  an 
uncertain  period  ;  how  much  more  striking  when  thou  certainly 
approaches,  and  by  the  vehicle  of  disease  art  near,  to  take  pos- 
session of  these  tabernacles  of  clay,  and  about  to  consign  them 
to  the  silent  grave,  never  more  to  appear  in  the  busy  scenes  of 
life,  but,  as  we  are  told,  our  place  will  know  us  no  more.  0, 
what  can  give  peace  in  the  dreadful  hour  which  will  inevitably 
overtake  all,  sooner  or  later  ?  The  courage  of  man,  his  fortitude 
of  heart,  and  all  worldly  comforts  cannot  support  him  in  that 
moment,  when  the  soul  stands  shuddering  on  the  brink  of  eter- 
nity, ready  to  launch  into  that  unknown  state  whence  none 
return.  Can  riches  bribe  him  ?  Will  he  respect  the  greatest 
titles  ?    Can  our  friends  do  any  thing  but  pour  out  their  silent 


472 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1769. 


grief?  "What  then  can  this  world,  and  all  things  in  it,  do  for 
us,  to  make  the  tyrant's  approach  be  without  horror,  and  a 
bed  of  languishing  tolerable  ?  Can  human  reason,  with  all  its 
boasted  power  and  rectitude,  give  peace  in  that  awful  hour, 
when  it  is  with  difhcully  that  the  body  can  support  the  pains 
of  sickness,  and  preserve  the  mind  free  from  its  effects  ?  Can 
reason  alone  ?  Can  philosophy  mitigate  the  pain  both  soul  and 
body  must  feel,  when  ten  thousand  worlds  would  not  avail  to 
give  a  moment's  peace  to  the  soul  ?  What  then  must  help  poor, 
frail  man  in  that  hour  7  and  what  has  he  to  rely  on,  when  time 
is  about  to  close,  and  the  veil  of  eternity  to  be  opened  'I  Reli- 
gion, if  truly  practised,  will  then  stand  his  friend,  and  peace  of 
mind  will  accompany  him  to  the  last ;  not  the  religion  which  is 
of  this  world — airy  speculations,  shadowy  forms,  which,  being 
of  man,  will  perish  with  man — but  real,  practical  religion, 
whereby  the  soul  is  lifted  up  to  God  through  Jesus  Christ, 
communicates  with  him,  is  enabled  to  pray  to  him,  and  to  know 
the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  fire,  to  cleanse  and  purify 
our  hearts,  whereby  we  are  strengthened  to  perform  what  is 
pleasing  in  his  sight,  and  to  take  up  the  cross  to  our  corrupt  wills 
and  inclinations,  to  walk  righteously  and  soberly  in  this  corrupt 
age,  to  keep  ourselves  unspotted  from  the  world,  which,  if 
adhered  to,  assuredly  brings  that  peace  of  mind  which  will 
accompany  us  through  this  vale  of  existence,  and  cause  us  to 
tread  the  paths  of  life  with  safety  and  pleasure.  It  will  support 
us  when  afflictions  may  be  our  lot,  and  a  bed  of  languishing  our 
portion ;  and,  finally,  in  that  thrice  awful  period,  when  it  may 
be  said — "  It  is  finished," — and  all  the  enjoyments  that  the 
mind  could  have  wished  for  will  terminate  in  empty  nothings  ; 
then,  then,  it  will  be  a  fountain,  never  to  be  exhausted,  of  holy 
joy  to  the  conscious  soul  ;  and  enable  it  to  triumph  in  the  last 
moment,  and  say — "  0,  death,  where  is  thy  sting?"  and  "  0, 
grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?"  and  even  accompany  the  soul  to 
those  immortal  shores,  where  peace  shall  be  its  portion  for  ever. 

Henry  Fothergill. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Although  in  feeble  health,  Samuel  Fothergill  attended  the 
yearly  meeting  in  London,  in  1768.  He  is  thus  mentioned  by 
a  Friend,  who  also  attended  that  meeting  :  "  Samuel  Fothergill 
came  to  town  this  week  ;  he  is,  indeed,  greatly  altered  ;  I  ap- 
prehend he  will  be  able  to  attend  the  meetings  but  little  

He  was  present  this  afternoon,  and  had  a  very  fine  and  high 
opportunity,  after  the  answers  to  the  queries  were  gone  through, 
on  the  state  of  the  Society,  and  the  duty  of  individuals.  He  is 
much  more  altered  than  I  could  suppose.  Unless  he  gets  bet- 
ter, his  public  service  will  be  much  lessened.  He  has  a  hollow 
cough,  hoarse,  and  appears  very  feeble." — {John  Gurney,  5ih 
Mo.,  2^th,  1768.) 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ABRAHAM  SHACKLETON.* 

Warrington,  6th  Mo.,  18th,  1768. 

I  send  thee  the  salutation  of  my  most  sincere  love, 
not  without  a  sense  of   our  heavenly  Father's  love,  with 

*  Abraham  Shackleton  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  and  was  very  early  de- 
prived by  death  of  the  care  of  his  religious  parents.  Thoujjh  then  so 
young  as  eight  years,  he  remembered,  and  used  to  commemorate,  the 
tender  concern  of  his  pious  father,  in  following  him  to  his  bedside,  and, 
on  leaving  him  to  repose,  awfully  recommending  him  to  seek  the  Divine 
blessing.  This  blessing  did  remarkably  attend  him  during  the  course  of 
his  life,  and  preserved  liim  from  evil  in  many  times  of  temptation  and 
danger,  leading  him  aside  from  careless  companions  into  solitary  places, 
61 


474 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1768. 


which  I  hope  thou  art  often  comforted,  now  in  thy  dccUniiig 
years,  and  favoured  with  the  evidence  in  thyself  of  having  in 
thy  measure,  through  Divine  assistance,  walked  with  God. 
I  need  not  attempt  to  express  to  thee  the  importance  of  such 
an  evidence,  when  the  soul  draws  nigh  her  flight  to  the  land 
from  whence  there  is  no  return.  It  hath  been  the  mark  for 
the  prize  in  thy  view,  and  I  am  thankful  to  feel  my  heart 
stirred  up  to  follow  such  examples  ;  animated,  by  their  suc- 
cess and  the  importance  of  the  subject,  to  use  all  diligence 
to  fill  up  my  duty,  that  1  may  finish  my  course  with  joy. 
My  shattered  constitution  often  gives  me  instruction,  and 
intimates  the  graves  are  ready ;  yet  it  halh  been  consistent 
witti  Divine  mercy  and  wisdom  to  raise  me  up  again,  beyond 
my  expectation ;  and  I  hope  I  am  bettered  by  my  affliction, 
not  only  in  what  belongs  to  me  as  an  individual,  but  also  in 
that  wherein  I  am  joined  by  all  the  living,  in  the  view  of  the 

there  to  seek  the  Lord,  who  graciously  nourished  him  by  many  precious 
visitations  of  Divine  grace,  and,  through  various  conflicts  and  exercises, 
formed  and  sanctified  him  for  a  vessel  of  honour  in  his  house. 

Having  menial  powers  competent,  he  applied  himself  to  literature,  and 
was  encouraged  to  remove  to  Ireland,  where  he  undertook  the  tuition  of 
Friends'  children,  in  great  simplicity  of  heart  and  awful  fear,  under  which, 
as  lie  humbly  kept,  he  was  enal)led  to  discharge  his  important  trust  faith- 
fully, his  instruction  and  example  tending  much  to  improvement  and  edifica- 
tion. In  a  few  years,  he  married  a  valuable  and  rehgious  young  woman  from 
Yorkshire,  and  they  opened  a  boarding-school  at  Ballitore,  in  which  he  con- 
scientiously and  successfully  laboured  for  many  years.  He  was  solid  and 
exemplary  in  demeanour,  an  eminent  pattern  of  humility  and  temperance, 
much  grieved  when  he  beheld  levity  in  any,  often  saying,  there  was  a  fear 
which  would  keep  the  heart  clean — expressing  his  desires  that  his  suc- 
cessors might  be  a  generation  to  serve  God.  As  age  advanced,  he 
found  his  spirit  in  a  greater  degree  sequestered  from  the  concerns  of  this 
life,  and  after  the  decease  of  his  aged  wife,  he  gave  up  housekeejiing, 
and  went  to  live  with  a  relation,  where,  tenderly  cared  for,  he  quietly  de- 
parted this  life  in  great  peace,  at  Ballitore,  the  2ith  of  6th  Month,  1771, 
aged  74  years. 


iETAT,  52.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


475 


State  of  the  church  in  most  places.  The  use  I  would  have  us 
make  of  this  view  is,  to  gird  up  the  loins  of  our  minds,  that  our 
example  may  be  a  strong  reproof  to  the  unfaithful ;  and  thus 
collected  in  spirit,  we  may  deeply  feel  after  the  putting  forth  of 
the  Divine  hand  in  service  ;  for  though  it  can  work  eflfectually 
without  instruments,  yet  it  will  also  work  by  them;  and  if  the 
visited  of  God  were  enough  devoted  in  heart  to  his  service,  in 
all  the  manifestations  of  duty,  we  should  have  more  useful  in- 
struments in  the  church-  But  alas  !  for  many,  who,  if  they  have 
followed  to  Bethel,  content  themselves  there,  and  attain  not  a 
double  portion  of  that  spirit,  which  those  who  steadily  follow 
■on,  even  through  Jordan,  are  favoured  with.  This  imperfect 
work  bears  undoubted  traces  of  the  Creator's  hand;  but,  like 
half-baked  cakes,  they  seem  to  me  to  be  no  inconsiderable 
eclipse  to  Zion's  beauty,  and  are  often  great  obstructions  in  the 
way  of  others,  as  such  who  neither  enter  the  kingdom  of  God 
themselves  nor  suffer  others.  Nevertheless,  the  God  of  the 
whole  earth  is  mindful  of  his  family,  and  eminently  favoured  us 
in  our  last  Yearly  Meeting  in  London,  from  which  I  returned 
with  my  mind  replenished  with  precious  dew. 

Salute,  in  my  name,  thy  son  and  daughter.  May  those  who 
are  of  the  younger  class  look  to  the  business  of  the  day  !  the 
building  up  of  the  Lord's  house,  more  than  their  own.  Unto 
him  all  our  utmost  dedication  of  spirit,  time,  and  labour  is  justly 
due.    My  dear  love  attends  you  all. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  LYDIA  HAWKSWORTH.» 

Warrington,  7th  Mo.,  11th,  1768. 
It  hath,  my  dear  Friend,  often  been  my  request  to 
Him  who  hath  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  his  hands,  that  He 

*  She  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Dehorah  Waring,  of  Alton,  in. 
Hampshire  ;  and  in  1768  was  married  to  Abraham  Richard  Hawksworth, 
■of  Bristol,  a  Friend  eminent  for  his  usefulness  and  great  benevolence. 


476 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1768. 


would  give  me  a  sympathising  mind,  and  the  effect  of  various 
exercises  in  the  course  of  my  pilgrimage  hath  been  so  far  ren- 
dered useful,  through  his  gracious  help,  as  to  obtain  my  earnest 
wish  ;  and  in  this  sympathising  sense,  I  have  dropt  ihe  tribute 
of  a  tear  to  the  dear  memory  of  our  beloved  Friend,  now  no 
more,  and  that  of  affectionate  condolence  with  thee,  who  feels 
unspeakably  the  dissolution  of  the  most  tender  tie.  Religion 
authorises  the  injunctions  of  nature  to  feel  deeply  on  such  occa- 
sions— it  cannot  be  culpable  in  the  sight  of  the  Author  of  our 
being ;  for  if  the  holy  Jesus  wept  for  Lazarus  his  friend,  shall 
the  tears  of  the  widow,  poured  forth  on  the  removal  of  a  most 
affectionate  husband,  a  tender  friend,  an  agreeable  companion, 
a  friend  with  whom  thou  hast  had  sweet  society,  and  gone  up 
to  the  house  of  God  in  his  company,  be  offensive  in  the  sight 
of  our  Creator,  who  well  knows  our  frame,  if  an  humble  labour 
after  acquiescence  in  sovereign  disposal  cover  thy  anxious,  pain- 
ful mind. 

As  a  man,  I  feel  and  view  with  sorrow  the  mighty  chasm  his 
removal  hath  occasioned  in  various  useful  relations  ;  my  own 
particular  affection  hath  lost  a  pleasing  object,  and  the  circle  of 
my  most  near  connexions  in  pure  friendship  is  invaded. — Yet, 
my  dear  friend,  let  us  look  on  the  other  side  of  the  question — 
for  whom  are  we  afflicted  !  One  now  for  ever  free  from  it. 
Recollect  we  his  memory  ?  It  is  precious.  His  conduct  in 
every  station  ?  It  was  uniform.  He  hath  left  this  world 
crowned  wiih  the  diadem  of  religion  and  virtue,  and  is 
gone  before  us,  sooner  than  we  wished  it,  to  the  rest  of 
souls,  and  has  cut  off  many  meanders  and  intricate  mazes 

Their  union  was  short,  for  in  a  few  months  he  was  removed  by  death,  and, 
at  his  interment,  she,  standing  up  and  laying  her  hand  upon  the  coffin 
which  contained  the  remains  of  her  beloved  partner,  bore  her  first  public 
testimony  as  a  minister.  Having  thus  devoted  herself  to  a  service  for 
which  she  had  long  been  under  preparation,  she  continued  exercised  in 
spirit,  and  humbly  waiting  for  the  renewal  of  power,  by  which  she  was 
made  an  able  minister  of  the  gospel.  She  departed  this  life  in  London, 
on  the  17th  of  12lh  Month,  1783,  aged  55  years. 


iETAT.  53.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


477 


in  ihc  pilgrimage  through  advanced  years  and  old  age,  by  a 
shorter  passage  to  the  New  Jerusalem,  than  many  others  are 
exercised  in. 

Endeavour  patiently  to  submit  to  His  hand,  whose  wisdom 
is  unsearchable,  and  who  knows  best  what  is  essential  lo  our 
happiness,  and  will  ever  promote  it,  with  a  wise  and  fatherly 
care,  if  we,  as  dutiful  children,  kiss  the  rod,  and  cast  our  care 
and  confidence  upon  him.  May  thy  mind  be  stayed  in  holy 
quietude  and  resignment,  and  thy  hold  confirmed  on  that  All- 
sufficiency,  wherein  all  the  deficiencies  attending  mortals  are 
made  up.  Walk  thou  before  thy  everlasting  Helper  in  steady 
obedience,  and  He  will  be  thy  sun  and  thy  shield. 

S.  F. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  12th  Mo.,  6th,  1768. 

We  can  only  acknowledge  thy  kind  attention  to  us,  in 
giving  us  such  frequent  intimations  of  thy  health  ;  to  help  it  at 
present  seems  scarcely  in  my  power.  It  was  prudent  to  leave 
Buxton  ;  a  longer  stay  there  would  have  been  of  no  advantage, 
but  much  discomfort  to  thyself.  Nor  can  I  at  any  time  advise 
thee  to  go  thither  under  doubtful  circumstances  of  health. 
These  kinds  of  remedies  are  more  fit  to  establish  good  health, 
when  it  is  recovered,  than  to  recover  it  when  lost. 

When  well,  make  it  a  rule  to  drink  no  wine  before  dinner, 
nor  between  meals,  nor  any  other  fermented  liquor.  I  know 
the  pernicious  custom  of  the  country  in  many  places  is  to  bring 
out  these  things,  and  urge  their  acceptance  as  a  test  of  friend- 
ship ;  but  it  is  a  bad  one.  I  don't  say  this  as  in  the  least  doubt- 
ing thy  care  in  this  respect,  but  to  strengthen  thy  hands  against 
imprudent  importunity. 

I  have  been  twice  this  day  at  Clapham,  twice  in  the  city, 
from  end  to  end,  and  have  not  a  moment's  respite  from  intense 
thought  the  whole  day,  but  while  I  get  a  little  abstracted  in  pass- 


47S 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1769. 


ing  through  a  crowd  from  place  to  place.  Make,  therefore, 
every  allowance  for  me  thou  canst.  I  do  this,  because  it  seems 
at  present  unavoidable.  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  but  what  is 
best  will  follow,  if  I  am  happy  enough  to  look  after  it. 

Dr.  Russel  is  no  more  ;*  and  on  seventh  day  last,  I  was  sent 
for,  in  great  hurry,  to  Clapham,  to  see  our  friend  C.  H.,  who, 
from  being  quite  well,  was  suddenly  seized  with  a  stroke  of  the 
palsy  on  his  expressive  faculty.  He  knows  every  body,  has 
the  power  of  sense  and  motion,  but  expresses  himself  very  im- 
perfectly. This  is  the  effect  of  a  most  uniform,  intense  appli- 
cation of  a  capacity  inferior  to  few. 

I  accept  this  as  another  hint  to  necessary  care  respecting  my- 
self;  and  I  labour  to  abandon  every  pursuit  that  is  not  conducive 
to  the  purposes  for  which  we  ought  to  live.  One  friend,  ano- 
ther companion,  a  third  acquaintance,  able,  sensible,  affectionate, 
all  gliding  from  our  sight !  What  have  I  lost  within  this  year  ! 
Do  not  let  this  make  thee  melancholy.  Let  it  cheer  thee  to 
think  the  brother  whom  thou  lovest  hates  not  instruction.  Fare- 
well, and  tell  us  thou  art  better  when  thou  canst.  I.  F. 


The  health  of  Samuel  Folhergill  had,  by  very  slow  degrees, 
improved,  and  his  strength  was  so  far  returned,  as  to  enable 
him,  in  the  first  month,  1769,  again  to  pay  a  religious  visit  to 
the  city  of  London :  and  on  this  occasion  he  was  engaged  in 
the  important  service  of  visiting  the  families  of  Friend  in  Grace- 
church  street  Monthly  Meeting,  in  which  he  was  accompanied 
by  his  friend  Samuel  Emlen.  This  engagement,  with  the  at- 
tendance of  the  various .  meetings  which  occurred  during  the 
lime,  occupied  twenty-eight  days.  The  number  of  visits,  ac- 
cording to  a  record  kept,  was  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  : 

•  Author  of  the  History  of  Aleppo,  and  an  intimate  friend  of  Dr.  Folh- 
ergill, who  wrote  a  sketch  of  his  life,  distinguished  for  the  elegance  of  its 
language  and  the  justness  of  its  sentiments. 


^TAT.  53.] 


SAMUEL  OF  FOTHERGILL. 


479 


afterwards,  viz. : — "  On  third  day,  second  Month,  25th,  visited 
"  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  and  Lord  Dartnaoulh,  at  Thomas 
"  Stackhouse's,  several  olher  'rehgious  persons  were  present." 
— [MS.  written  by  Ann  Pother  gill,) 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL. 

London,  1st  Mo.,  26th,  1769. 
Just  to  save  my  brother  the  labour  of  writing,  I  take 
pen  in  hand  to  acquaint  thee  he  is  well.  He  has  entered  upon 
the  service  he  came  up  for,  and  I  trust  with  satisfaction  to  him- 
self, and  to  the  objects  of  his  mission.  He  finds  that  Friends 
in  general  open  both  their  doors  and  their  hearts  to  the  visit, 
and  a  more  acceptable  companion  could  not  perhaps  have  been 
found  than  Samuel  Emlen.  We  have  both  been  labouring  pretty 
hard  to-day  in  our  different  vocations,  but  as  I  think  his  is  of  much 
greater  moment  than  my  own,  so  I  should  readily  bring  his 
cloak  from  Troas.  Do  not  think  that  because  I  write  he  is  not 
able  or  not  willing  to  do  it.  He  is  both  the  one  and  the  other  ; 
but  I  thought  it  an  agreeable  employment,  just  to  let  thee  see 
that  neither  my  brother  nor  ourselves  are  forgetful  of  thee, 
though  under  a  multiplicity  of  engagements.  My  chief  solici- 
tude is,  that  my  brother  may  not  be  more  in  haste  than  he  ought. 
I  love  diligence,  and  am  not  apt  to  discourage  it;  but  there  is 
such  a  thing  as  being  too  eager  and  earnest. 

L  F. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  3d  Mo.,  2d,  1769. 
We  have  received  the  account  of  thy  return  with  great 
satisfaction.    Remember  the  motto,  ne  quid  nimis  :*  write  it  in 

*  "  Id  arbitror 
Ad  prima  in  vitae  esse  utile,  ne  quid  nimis.'''' — Terence, 
"  We  should  not  pursue  any  object  too  far."  No  doubt  intended  by  Dr. 


480 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1769. 


capitals  everywhere.  I  endeavour  to  attend  to  it,  in  the  midst 
of  seeming  hurry.  With  grateful  reverence  I  acknowledge  it ; 
not  from  myself,  but,  I  trust,  from  the  secret  motions  of  better 
help.  I  receive  the  intimation  of  it  with  thankfulness,  and  daily 
wish  io  follow  on  to  hnoiu. 

Thy  health  is  the  most  material  article.  Be  content  with  thy 
slow  recovery.  Whilst  thou  art  acting  the  part  thy  best  discre- 
tion directs,  think  it  is  for  the  best,  and  not  an  argument  that 
nature  is  unhinged  or  inactive. 

Thy  remarks  on  addessing  have  had  my  attention.  Pre- 
vious to  thy  mentioning  it,  I  have  thought  of  a  less  exception- 
able, more  necessary,  and  more  consistent  measure.  Let  a 
strong  paragraph  be  inserted  in  the  printed  Epistle,  advising 
Friends  to  beware  of  entering  into  that  warm  party  spirit  that 
has  sprung  up,  in  this  country  and  elsewhere  ;  charging  alFto 
remember  the  obligations  we  are  under  to  honour  and  obey  the 
King,  and  especially  the  present  royal  family,  from  whose  pro- 
genitors we  have  received  so  many  favours.  I  leave  the  at- 
tempt to  thy  leisure,  and  think  such  a  paragraph  both  proper 
and  expedient.* 

The  space  to  be  allowed  us  in  the  Scotch  dictionary  is  six  or 
seven  foho  pages,  if  we  please.  I  am  pleased  that  it  engages 
thy  attention,  and  I  shall  do  more  at  Lea  Hall,  when  thou  hast 
sketched  the  plan.t  I  would  not  advice  thee  to  go  to  Kirby 
Lonsdale,   (to  the  Northern  Yearly  Meeting  there,)  unless 

Fothcrgill  as  a  caution  to  his  brother,  to  restrain  the  natural  energy  of  his 
character,  and  as  a  salutary  advice  to  be  careful  of  his  little  remaining 
strength. 

*  See  the  printed  epistle  from  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  1769. 

t  This  relates  to  an  account  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  in  a  dictionary, 
published  at  Edinburgh,  which,  as  appears  from  this  letter,  was  written  by 
Samuel  Fothergiil  and  his  brother.  It  was  afterwards  published  separately, 
with  tliis  title, — "  A  brief  account  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  their  doc- 
"  trines,  and  discipline,  taken  from  a  Dictionary  of  Arts  and  Sciences, 
"  lately  published  at  Edinburgh." — London,  1772. 


jETAT.  53.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


481 


thou  cannot  help  it.  I  know  the  consequence,  if  other- 
wise. 

May  a  person  who  needs  advice  as  much  as  most,  and  at  the 
same  time  does  not  profit  by  it  so  much  as  he  ought,  presume 
to  give  any  ?  Thy  affection  for  me  will  throw  a  mantle  of 
oblivion  over  me,  if  I  say  any  thing  that  does  not  correspond 
with  thy  own  reflections.  Be  short  in  supplication  ;  use  no 
words  not  of  common  use,  and  the  same  words  as  seldom  as 
possible.  The  ineffable  majesty  of  Heaven  is  enough  to  dazzle 
all  human  conception ;  yet  the  Our  Father  which  art  in 
heaven,"  is  indeed  a  complete  model.  Stray  from  its  simplicity 
as  seldom  as  possible  ;  but  I  speak  with  unhallowed  lips,  and 
therefore  forgive  me.  My  wish  is  strong  that  the  Father  of  all 
mercies  may  long  preserve  thee,  a  choice  instrument,  a  silver 
trumpet,  that  gives  a  certain  sound,  as  thine  is,  that  I  may  be 
conducted  wisely  through  a  thorny,  slippery,  arduous  track,  to 
safely  and  happiness  at  last.  So  let  it  be  for  us  both,  saith  all 
within  me. 

I.  F. 

S.  Fothergill  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London,  in 
1769,  but  became  very  unwell  before  its  close,  and  was  accom- 
panied on  his  journey  homewards  by  J.  C.  Leltsom,  a  young 
physician,  to  whom  he  was  guardian.  They  travelled  by  short 
stages  to  Lea  Hall. 

From  this  period  to  the  close  of  his  life,  the  health  of  Samuel 

Fothergill  became  more  and  more  precarious  ;  his  constitution 

failed  rapidly  ;  the  attacks  of  his  complaint  were  more  severe, 

and  returned  at  shorter  intervals,  leaving  him  on  each  succeeding 

occasion  much  reduced  in  strength.    The  effect  produced  upon 

his  mind  by  these  repeated  trials  was  a  still  larger  growth  in 

experience,  in  humility,  and  patience.    It  was  the  frequent 

remark  of  his  friends,  upon  his  re-assembling  with  them  in  their 

religious  meetings  after  these  afflictions,  that  whilst  his  ministry 

was  more  and  more  bright  and  instructive,  humility  was  also 
62 


482  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1769. 

the  clothing  of  his  spirit,  and  that  he  came  forth  from  these 
painful  seasons  as  one  refined  in  the  furnace. 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year,  having  regained  a  portion  of 
strength,  he  again  visited  London  with  a  certificate,  and  was 
engaged  in  a  visit  to  the  families  of  Friends  in  Horsleydown 
Meeting,  (now  Sonthwark,)  again  having  his  friend  Samuel 
Emien  as  a  companion.  In  the  course  of  this  service,  upon 
visiting  two  young  Friends,  then  recently  married,  he  addressed 
them  as  follows  : — 

"  As  you  are  both  young,  and,  it  is  very  probable,  may  be 
at  limes  solicitous  for  your  future  advancement  in  life,  I  would 
just  propose  one  thing  to  your  serious  consideration,  without 
which  no  one  was  ever  happy,  or  any  one  unhappy  with  it ;  whicli 
is  Godliness  :  it  is  the  soul's  heallh.  Godliness  is  profitable  in 
all  things  ;  it  is  profitable  in  health,  it  is  profitable  in  sickness  ; 
it  is  profitable  upon  a  languishing  bed,  it  is  profitable  in  death  : 
it  initiates  us  into  the  company  of  glorified  spirits,  in  the 
boundless  and  beatific  regions  of  immortalilv.  And,  my  dear 
young  friends,  I  earnestly  address  you  on  this  occasion,  with  a 
degree  of  the  tenderest  affection,  sincerely  desiring  your  happy 
introduction  therein,  when  these  few  fleeting  moments  of  your 
existence  shall  terminate,  and  you  shall  be  summoned  from 
this  stage  of  action,  to  appear  before  the  tribunal  of  im- 
maculate purity.  You  are  placed  here  only  as  delegated  stew- 
ards ;  as  accountable  beings  to  your  bountiful  Creator  for  every 
talent  committed  to  your  care  ;  and  your  eternal  interest  depends 
upon  your  consecrating  those  talents  here  to  his  service,  who 
created  you  as  vessels  for  his  honour,  and  to  whose  guidance 
and  protection  I  warmly  and  afTectionately  recommend  you, 
my  beloved  friends ;  sincerely  wishing  your  establishment 
and  growth  in  the  blessed  and  unchangeable  truth,  through 
the  bounty  and  favour  of  our  Father  who  is  in  heaven. 
Godliness  is  profitable  in  all  things,  and  I  most  earnestly 
intreat  and  recommend  you  to  a  due  consideration  of  the 
importance  of  it ;  seek,  in  your  early  days,  seek  a  friend  that 


! 


^TAT.  53.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


483 


will  never  forsake  you  ;  for  if  you  apply  to  him  in  sincerilVj 
he  will  be  found  of  you.  .  His  Divine  goodness  will  preserve 
you  as  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  conduct  you  through  the 
various  difficulties  and  dangers  of  a  tempestuous  world,  to  an  ev- 
erlasting habitation  in  glory.  Oh  !  seek,  him  early,  aliove  every 
consideration  ;  he  will  be  a  father  and  a  friend,  when  no  terres- 
trial objects  can  administer  the  least  consolation,  and  every  plea- 
sant picture  shall  be  stained  in  your  view.  Godliness  is  profita- 
ble in  all  things.  It  is  the  soul's  health,  it  is  the  never-fading  sup- 
port of  the  righteous  under  every  difficulty,  and  the  sovereign 
antidote  to  the  evils  of  life.  1  could  wish  our  dear  youth  were 
more  generally  engaged  in  pursuit  after  substantial  happiness  ; 
that  they  would  cultivate  an  acquaintance  with  their  Creator  as 
in  the  morning  of  their  day  ;  for  the  sands  of  life  are  hastening  to 
a  close,  and  the  coming  of  death  is  approaching  with  unreraiuing 
swiftness.  Alas  !  alas  !  what  are  the  riches  and  the  splendours  of 
these  perishing,  sublunary  objects,  in  comparison  of  our  everlast- 
ing well-being  hereafter  ?  The  one  is  transient,  fleeting,  and  mo- 
mentary, and  altogether  uncertain  ;  the  other  is  the  permanent 
fruition  of  uninterrupted  felicity  forever,  amongst  an  innumerable 
company  of  saints  and  angels,  and  the  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect,  continuing  the  inexhaustible  theme  of  praises,  dominion, 
and  worship,  to  the  sovereign  Lord  of  the  whole  universe. 

"  I  have  had  to  remark,  in  passing  through  divers  parts  of  this 
city,  many  loitering  as  upon  the  skirts  of  the  camp  ;  and  the 
sword  of  Amalek  hath  destroyed  numbers.  I  beseech  you,  my 
beloved  friends,  let  your  eye  be  unto  godliness ;  and  though  it 
falls  not  to  the  godly  to  be  always  gifted  with  the  affluence  of 
worldly  riches,  yet  you  will  assuredly  find  unspeakable  conso- 
lation resulting  from  the  Divine  favour  and  goodness  towards 
you,  which  will  abundantly  counterbalance  every  worldly  con- 
sideration. Be  not  of  this  world,  but  let  your  views  be  directed 
towards  a  better  country,  even  a  pure,  undefiled,  holy  habita- 
tion, a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.  Seek 
not  after  riches — suffer  not  your  attention  to  be  diverted  from 


484 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1769. 


ihe  pursuit  of  virtue,  nor  be  desirous  after  the  vain,  foolish,  tran- 
sitory amusements  of  a  degenerate  age  ;  for  all  these  things  will 
terminate  in  sorrow  and  distress  of  mind,  and  riches  make  to  them- 
selves wings  and  flee  away  ;  but  godliness  is  profitable  in  all  things : 
it  will  be  your  support  in  every  trial,  your  never-failing  consola- 
tion under  every  difficulty,  and  ultimately  afford  you  a  comforta- 
ble evidence  of  admission  into  the  permanent  joys  of  eternity,  in 
a  glorious  and  unfading  recompense,  which  the  Father  and  Foun- 
tain of  unlimited  mercy  and  goodness  has  prepared  for  all  those 
who  diligently  seek  him.  Therefore,  my  dear  young  friends, 
suflfer  me  once  more  strongly  to  recommend  you,  in  the  early 
part  bf  your  life,  to  seek  the  God  of  your  fathers,  the  never-fail- 
ing help  of  those  who  seek  him  in  sincerity.  And  I  will  say 
this  for  your  encouragement,  that  though  the  heavens  should 
pass  away,  and  the  earth  sliould  be  removed  out  of  its  place,  the 
lofty  mountains  should  dissolve  and  be  no  more,  yet  the  pro- 
mises of  the  Lord  are  amply  verified  to  them  that  fear  him.  It  is 
a  blessing  which  makes  truly  rich,  and  adds  no  sorrow  with  it  ; 
it  will  assuredly  attend  the  humble  efforts  of  a  life  dedicated  to 
his  service,  administer  comfort  under  every  trying  dispensation 
of  [lis  providence,  and  be  your  exceeding  great  reward  ;  for  god- 
liness is  riches  in  poverty — it  is  profitable  in  all  things." 

His  friends,  in  speaking  of  these  services,  have  given  the 
following  testimony — "  He  was  divinely  strengthened,  and  en- 
abled to  extend  a  helping  hand  to  many,  in  close  and  necessary 
labour,  for  their  increasing  care  to  Hve  and  act  consistently 
with  our  holy  profession,  to  the  comfort  of  many,  and  to  his  own 
peace  of  mind." 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  12th  Mo.,  11th,  1769. 

I  may  tell  thee  that  I  am  favoured  with  the  hvely 
hope,  that  in  my  late  labour  I  have  been  in  the  service  of 
him  who  is  a  rewarder  of  feeble,  well-intended  service,  for  the 


^TAT.  51.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  485 

promotion  of  his  good  cause  ;  and  I  am  comforted  in  the  hope 
lliat  I  have  done  what  I  ought  in  my  late  visit  to  your  city. 
And  I  am  thankful  to  feel  the  chain  of  fraternal  and  Chris- 
tian union,  brightened  by  the  spreading  of  best  love  upon 
it.  May  no  spot  of  rust  ever  impair  its  lustre.  I  have  been, 
with  respect  to  my  health,  much  as  when  in  London,  until  last 
week,  when  my  complaint  fastened  on  my  ancle  and  foot,  not 
without  some  considerable  uneasiness  in  my  breast.  But  I  was 
enabled  to  get  a  little  about.  On  seventh  day  last,  I  got  in  a 
post  chaise  to  Penketh,  to  the  burial  of  Ann,  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Key  ;  she  finished,  I  hope,  well.  This  forenoon,  our  worthy, 
innocent  old  acquaintance,  Esther  Key,  was  removed  from  us  ; 
I  have  no  doubt  that  she  had  clean  hands  and  a  pure  heart,  and 
that  she  has  ascended  the  hill  of  the  Lord,  and  stands  in  his 
holy  place.  Thus  are  the  ranks  of  our  acquaintance  thinning 
fast,  and  from  many  occasions  we  may  hear  the  summons — 
"  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God." 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  JOHN. 

Warrington,  1st  Mo.,  20th,  1770. 

 With  respect  to  the  present  agitated  state  of 

the  nation,  I  am  pleased  and  thankful  when  my  own  mind,  and 
those  I  love,  are  kept  from  its  vortex,  and  quietly  stayed  on  him 
who  makes  the  clouds  his  chariot,  and  walks  on  the  wings  of 
the  wind.  He  knows  best  how  to  fix  instruction  on  the  minds 
of  people  deaf  to  the  language  of  multiplied  mercies.  I  love  my 
native  country,  and  ardently  wish  for  its  sake,  and  our  own  as  a 
people,  that  we  might  be  found  amongst  the  interceding  righteous, 
for  whose  sake  the  day  of  national  safety  might  be  protracted. 

I  rejoice  in  thy  account  of  a  revival  in  Gracechurch-street 
Monthly  Meeting.  I  often  feel  a  warmth  towards  your  city, 
which  unaided  nature  cannot  raise,  and  a  hope  is  vouchsafed, 
at  times,  that  a  precious  divinely  prevalent  visitation  of  good 


486 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1770. 


will  better  many  amongst  you  ?  and  animate  to  shake  your- 
selves from  the  dust,  and  put  on  the  beautiful  garments  of  sin- 
cerity and  godly  zeal :  may  the  Lord  of  all  power,  in  his  own 
time,  thus  prosper  his  great  and  good  work;  and  if  individuals 
walk  in  the  light  with  full  purpose  of  heart,  their  walking  will 
terminate  in  their  own  security,  and  the  recompense  of  Well 
done,  and  be  most  signally  useful  to  encourage  others.  Thy 
time  is  precious,  I  will  not  much  further  encroach  upon  it ;  thou 
needs  not  information,  thou  knows  these  things.  If  by  a  hap- 
py collision  we  may  fetch  out  the  sparks  of  divine  fire  from  each 
other,  and  preserve  the  everlasting  fire  in  its  genuine  nature,  it 
will  be  mutually  beneficial.  But  such  powers,  limes,  and  sea- 
sons are  not  in  our  hands.  My  hand  refuses  more  labour  than 
just  to  salute  you  all  with  the  tenderest  affection. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  S.  L. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  13th,  1770. 

Thou  hast  been  very  frequently  the  companion  of  my 
mind  since  I  saw  thee  last,  with  hope  and  secret  fear  so  tem- 
pered together,  as  furnish  me  with  a  solicitude  on  thy  account, 
distinguished  from  what  I  have  felt  for  almost  any  other.  And 
as  I  believe  the  Lord  of  all  our  sure  mercies  hath  caused  his 
blessed  day  to  dawn  upon  thee,  and  I  trust  hath  engaged  thee 
sincerely  to  walk  in  it,  permit  me,  from  the  motions  of  affection 
stronger  than  nature  suggests,  to  offer  thee  such  hints  as  occur 
to  my  mind.  My  hope  is  raised  in  this  confirmed  belief,  that 
He  who  is  the  restitution  of  all  things,  and  ever  equal  to  perform 
his  own  work,  hath  visited  thee  for  this  end,  even  thy  redemp- 
tion, and  hath  measurably  prevailed  with  thee  to  avow  his  work, 
by  a  degree  of  submission  thereto.  He  is  the  Lord  of  perfec- 
tion himself,  and  would  make  his  sons  and  servants  like  him  ; 
would  beautify  them  with  his  salvation,  and  make  them 


^TAT.  54.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


487 


strong  for  himself.  I  am  unquestionably  assured  He  would 
thus  work  effectually  with  and  in  thee,  to  establish  his  own 
kingdom  in  thy  heart,  and  bless,  not  only  with  the  glimpse  of 
his  salvation,  but  the  stability  thereof,  and  dignify  with  a  pos- 
session therein  for  ever. 

But  what  are  the  terms  on  which  this  treasure  is  attainable  ? 
They  are  expressed  in  the  term  redemption,  that  most  necessary 
work  for  all  men,  without  which  there  can  be  no  possibility  of 
admission  amongst  the  saved  of  God.  Here  many  have  fatally 
stumbled,  and  turned  back  at  the  hard,  yet  true,  sayings  of 
Christ,  to  be  reduced  to  death,  and  even  annihilation,  to  the  va- 
ried corruptions  of  flesh  and  spirit,  that  the  old  man  with  all  his 
works  may  be  put  off,  and  the  new  man,  Christ  Jesus,  put  on ; 
it  is,  indeed,  putting  the  axe  to  the  root  of  the  tree,  and,  alas !  the 
place  where  many  have  gone  sorrowfully  away.  Here  my  secret 
painful  fear  respecting  ihee  hath  kept  my  heart  awake,  at  times, 
in  praver  for  thy  establishment  and  perfect  safely.  Thou  art 
favoured  with  a  good  understanding,  mayest  thou  wait  to  have 
it  replenished  with  best  wisdom,  nor  admit  a  thought  that  He 
who  liath  the  key  of  David  hath  delegated  it  to  the  wisdom  of 
flesh  and  blood  :  in  him  are  hid  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge,  and  he  will  be  inquired  after  and  sought  to,  to  open 
them.  It  was,  and  is,  a  truth  of  undeniable  authority,  that  it  is 
hard  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  the  kingdom,  whether  in  affluence 
of  riches,  or  superiority  of  understanding.  The  reason  seems 
obvious — they  have  a  tendency  to  lead  from  a  single  depend- 
ence on  Hjm  who  fills  heaven  and  earth  with  goodness  and 
truth,  and  demands  the  tribute  of  love  and  obedience  from  all. 
No  eye  but  that  strengthened  by  faith  can  pierce  through  the 
clouds  which  cover  this  lower  system,  and  intercept  the  pros- 
pect of  more  excellent  riches  on  high.  But  the  eye  opened, 
by  Him  who  gave  sight  to  Bartimeus,  sees  its  own  weakness, 
and  the  imperfection  of  all  that  is  finite  ;  and  looks  with  suit- 
able expectation  to  Him  who  is  infinite — his  help  in  time,  and 
his  song  for  ever.    I  behold  thee  on  a  slippery  sea  of  glass. 


4SS 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1770. 


yet  mingled  with  fire  ;  there  is  ability  to  stand  thereon,  and 
thereby  be  purified,  but  not  consumed.  Have  a  care  of  thy 
steps  ;  wait  to  have  them  directed  right,  and  they  will  issue  in 
peace.  I  see  thee  surrounded  by  foxes,  which  want  to  nip  the 
bud  of  that  vine,  which  the  Lord  of  the  heritage  hath  planted, 
and  which,  if  properly  cultivated,  and  vigilantly  guarded,  will 
bring  forth  grapes  productive  of  wine,  even  that  wine  which 
makes  glad  the  heart  of  God  and  man.  Methinks  I  see  thee, 
at  times,  allured  by  the  attractions  of  Divine  love,  to  a  total 
surrender  of  all  to  the  ever-worthy  Sovereign  ;  at  other  times, 
irresolute  and  wavering,  reluctant  about  parting  with  the  hon- 
ours and  greatness  of  this  world,  and  its  vain  applause,  even 
for  His  sake  who  for  thine  trod  the  wine-press  alone,  and  suf- 
fered his  sacred  head  to  be  crowned  with  thorns,  to  which,  of 
proper  right,  belongs  the  diadem  of  heaven.  Sometimes,  the 
painful  soliloquy  may  run  on  this  wise — I  will  tread  the  middle 
path,  and  walk  in  all  the  lustre  of  moral  rectitude,  blameless  to 
the  most  scrutinizing  mortal  eye  ;  and — "  Are  not  Abana  and 
Pharpar,  rivers  of  Damascus,  better  than  all  the  waters  of  Is- 
rael ?"  cannot  I  be  clean  enough  by  washing  in  them  ?  Here 
mystery  Babylon  presents  itself,  a  transient  rest,  procured  at 
less  price  than  the  rest  of  Zion,  and  lulls,  by  its  deception,  the 
unwary  pilgrim  into  a  rest  short  of  the  true  rest.  Peradventure, 
at  other  moments,  distressing  apprehensions  of  thy  own  imbe- 
cility may  so  prevail  as  to  discourage  and  afflict,  and,  perhaps, 
suggest  a  diffident  thought,  as  though  victory  was  not  attainable  ; 
and  thence  the  unwearied  enemy  would  draw  conclusions  to 
drop  the  warfare,  and  content  thyself  with  thy  inevitable  lot. 
Under  all  these  besetments  who  can  stand,  and  stand  fast  with- 
out fainting?  The  armour  of  our  defence,  human  resolutions 
and  conclusions,  will  vanish  into  empty  air.  Innocence  towards 
God  as  well  as  man  is  impenetrable  armour,  and  unmixed 
sincerity  is  the  while  linen  of  the  saints.  Sampson  never  met 
with  more  timely,  substantial  relief,  than  from  the  fountain 
proceeding  from  the  jaw-bone  of  an  ass ;  he  cast  it  away  at 


£TAT.  54.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


489 


Ramath-lehi,  but  found  it  again  at  En-hakkore.  My  soul  craves 
thy  help  and  safety  ;  may  the  Rock  of  Israel  be  thy  refuge,  and 
may  thy  mind  be  established  in  covenant  with  him.  All  earth 
will  vanish,  its  glory  be  like  a  dissolving  bubble,  its  connexions 
be  fleeting  as  a  dream  ;  but  the  soul  which  patiently  bears  the 
turning  of  the  redeeming  Hand,  and,  leaving  momentary  things, 
cleaves  to  that  which  is  eternal,  will  be  supported,  and  know  its 
riches  to  be  unchangeable  in  their  nature,  and  eternal  in  their 
continuance. 

Let  the  warmth  of  my  heart  plead  my  excuse  for  the  in- 
correctness of  my  style.  I  write  because  I  feel,  and  to  be  felt, 
and  not  for  amusement.  Farewell,  dear  S.  ;  remember,  life  is 
short,  its  business  arduous,  the  prize  immortal  glory,  the  failure 
eternal  misery. 

S.  F. 

In  1770,  the  state  of  S.  Fothergill's  health  did  not  permit  him 
to  attend  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London.  The  following  letter 
relates  to  that  meeting. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 

London,  6th  Mo.,  4th,  1770. 

I  thought  it  would  not  be  disagreeable  to  thee  to  hear 
from  the  camp.  This  afternoon  we  met  at  four,  and  proceeded 
in  the  business  as  usual.  Henry  Gurney  is  clerk,  and  is  both 
an  able  and  expeditious  one.  The  committees  are  appointed 
as  usual,  and  I  think  that  of  appeals  is  as  well  as  we  have  had 
for  some  time.  There  is  a  large  concourse  of  Friends,  and 
most  of  the  few  ancients  we  have  left  are  present.  C.  Payton 
is  with  us ;  Jonah  Thompson  is  in  town,  J.  Griffith,  Is.  Shar- 
pies, &c.  The  Epistles  are  laid  upon  proper  shoulders.  Be- 
fore the  meeting  ended,  I  wished  Friends  to  consider  the  value 
of  their  time,  and  the  necessity  of  being  collected,  both  in 
meetings  and  out  of  them,  that  they  at  their  return,  and  we  when 
63 


490 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1770. 


we  were  left,  might  be  able  to  look  back  with  some  degree  of 
satisfaction.  James  Goiigh  soon  afterwards  stood  up,  with  a 
good  degree  of  warmth,  and  I  think  this  first  silting  as  solemn  as 
many  we  have  had.  The  appointment  for  the  General  Epistle 
is  numerous,  and  of  solid  Friends.  Jos.  Phipps  will  have  the 
compiling  of  it,  and  I  trust  that  better  help  than  our  own  will 
be  afforded. 

/  should,  ive  should  all,  have  rejoiced  in  thy  company ;  I 
know  ihy  mind  will  be  with  us,  though  thy  body,  retarded  by, 
perhaps,  unreasonable  services,  is  forced  to  submit  to  confine- 
ment. But  there  may  be  some  instruction  in  it,  and  if  we  learn 
wisdom,  acquire  docility,  abate  of  our  natural  impetuosity,  and 
grow  in  patience,  much  advantage  is  reaped.  We  were  at  the 
Savoy  yesterday  ;  C.  Payton  was  with  us,  J.  Stephenson, 
Edmund  Gurney,  all  appeared  ;  all  in  a  line,  but  all,  I  think, 
right ;  low,  but  as  high  as  they  ought  to  be — and  convincing. 

Farewell,  dear  brother ;  accept  our  united  affectionate  remem- 
brance. 

I.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  COAKLEY  LETTSOM, 
On  his  Marriage  with  Ann  Miers. 

8lh  Mo.,  1770. 

T  was  duly  favoured  with  thine  by  my  sister  at  Lea 
Hall,  and  should  have  written  sooner  had  ability  and  leisure 
united,  for  there  has  lived  in  my  mind  a  salutation  to  thee, 
the  object  of  my  tender  solicitude,  and  to  thy  wife,  thy  com- 
panion in  every  tender  sense,  the  joint  object  of  my  affec- 
tionate well-wishing.  I  consider  you  as  now  entering  upon 
the  more  arduous  scenes  of  this  life,  and  filling  more  im- 
portant stations  than  in  your  single  state,  and  most  earn- 
estly desire  you  may  now,  on  your  first  entering  into  the 
more  arduous  paths,  be  wisely  directed,  for  much  depends  on 
this  important  crisis.  With  a  heart  replenished  with  the 
warmest  affection,  I  recommend  the  Psalmist's  words,  repre- 


^TAT.  54.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  491 

senting  the  wise  of  all  ages,  "  In  the  name  of  our  God  we  will 
set  up  our  banners."  This  is  a  proper  allusion  to  your  state, 
who  have  entered  together  into  the  most  delicate  and  tender 
bonds  of  union,  to  be  each  other's  help-mates,  to  soften  every 
care,  to  enhance  every  comfort,  to  divide  every  burthen  reci- 
procally and  mutually,  and  to  help  each  other  in  every  temporal 
respect ;  and  not  only  so,  but  to  go  up  hand  in  hand  together  to  the 
house  of  God,  and  to  the  mountain  of  his  holiness,  in  order  to 
enjoy  this  permanent  felicity  of  the  conjugal  state.  In  the  name 
of  our  God,  now  set  up  your  banners  ;  let  nothing  divert  your 
minds  from  an  humble,  attentive  care  to  put  yourselves  under 
his  protection  ;  implore  his  guardianship  and  tuition,  he  alone 
can  help  you  in  times  of  probation,  and  defend  you  in  the  peri- 
lous hour  ;  guard  you  from  the  dangers  of  unsanctified  seeming 
prosperity,  and  place  his  everlasting  arm  underneath  in  the  time 
of  adversity  ;  place  in  him  your  confidence,  that  you  may  not 
be  moved  ;  the  world,  with  a  variety  of  blandishments,  will 
present  its  schemes  of  happiness,  and  make  large  promises  of  a 
good  it  has  not  in  its  power  to  bestow  ;  but  may  you  carefully 
remember,  that  in  the  world,  or  under  the  prevalence  of  its 
spirit,  you  will  find  disappointment  and  trouble,  but  in  the  name 
and  under  the  banners  of  God,  peace  ;  peace  flows  as  a  river, 
and  all  the  cross  events  and  painful  allotments  are  sanctified 
and  sweetened.  Beware,  therefore,  my  dear  friends,  of  rushing 
into  the  world  of  dissipation,  which  often  attends  a  circumstance 
similar  to  yours  ;  beware  of  a  vain  confidence  in  the  smiles  and 
caresses  of  men  and  women  of  this  world's  spirit.  Beseech 
the  protection  and  guidance  of  Him  who  ought  to  be  placed  su- 
preme in  families,  and  buildeth  up  a  sure  house  to  those  who  in 
all  their  ways  acknowledge  him,  and  cast  themselves  under  his 
protection.  I  trust  a  holy  visitation  hath  given  you  an  under- 
standing, what  it  is  that  makes  for  true  peace  ; '  enter  not  into 
selfish  deliberations  how  to  avoid  plain  duty  ;  protract  not  your 
stay  in  a  land  of  jeopardy  and  danger,  by  taking  counsel,  but 
not  of  God,  and  covering,  yourselves  with  a  covering,  but  not  of 


I 


493  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1770. 

his  spirit.  The  state  of  the  Church  in  that  city  requires  of  you 
to  come  up  to  the  lielp  of  the  Lord,  against  the  mighty  inunda- 
tion of  folly  and  forgetfulness  which  prevails  ;  there  are  no 
wages  equal  to  those  he  gives  his  servants,  for  surely  the  reward 
of  the  faithful  labourer  is  exceeding  great ;  peace,  tranquillity, 
and  glory  are  upon  their  heads  for  ever.  Thus,  beloved  friends, 
my  soul  travails  for  you,  for  your  present  and  everlasting  wel- 
fare, that  the  solemn  engagement  you  have  mutually  entered 
into  may  be  truly  fulfilled,  and  your  happiness  established  upon 
a  most  durable  basis.  The  eye  of  passion,  in  the  short-lived 
fever  of  the  mind,  sometimes  improperly  called  love,  flatters 
itself  with  objects  of  imagined  amiableness  and  beauty ;  this  is 
transient  and  mutable  ;  but  affection,  founded  on  mutual  esteem, 
for  an  object  which  religion  and  virtue  have  rendered  truly  estima- 
ble hath  a  permanency  in  it  equal  to  the  causes  which  produced  it. 
It  is  not  in  my  mind  to  descend  into  every  particular  point  of 
conduct  necessary  for  your  happiness  ;  these  will  be  clearly 
opened  as  occasion  requires,  and  help  administered  to  come  up 
in  every  duty,  to  render  you  truly  comfortable  and  happy,  use- 
ful and  honourable  in  the  church  and  in  the  world,  and  objects 
of  Divine  favour  and  acceptance  ;  but  allow  me  to  recommend 
a  close  attendance  of  meetings,  both  for  worship  and  discipline ; 
in  this  most  reasonable  service  the  soul  has  often  been  unex- 
pectedly replenished  with  good,  and  its  strength  renewed  to 
step  forward  in  the  holy  path.  Dare  not  to  live  without  God 
in  the  world,  lest  he  withdraw  his  blessings,  and  then  who  can 
make  up  the  deficiency  ?  My  health  continues  precarious ;  my 
ancles  and  feet  are  weak  ;  this  is  also  the  case  with  my  right 
hand  ;  I  have  been  obliged  to  drop  my  pen  several  times  in  this 
essay  to  salute  you,  which  may  account  for  several  inaccuracies 
besides  those  in  writing;  nevertheless,  warm  affection  fills  and 
strengthens  my  mind  you-wards,  in  which  I  wish  you  present 
and  everlasting  welfare,  with  a  tenderness  as  nearly  paternal  as 
I  am  capable  of. 

S.  F. 


I 


-ETAT.  54.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


493 


J.  C.  Lettsom  was  the  son  of  Edward  Letlsom,  the  proprie- 
tor of  three  of  those  small  islets  or  keys  which  surround  the  Is- 
land of  Tortola.  On  one  of  these,  called  the  Little  Vandyke, 
he  was  born,  on  the  22d  of  11th  Mo.,  1744.  Here  his  father 
cultivated  cotton,  with  the  assistance  of  about  fifty  slaves,  whose 
cottages  were  placed  around  the  mansion  of  their  master.  Ed- 
ward Lettsom  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and 
had  dealings  with  Abraham  and  T.  H.  Rawhnson,  of  Lancas- 
ter, and  to  their  care  he  consigned  his  son,  when  six  years  old. 
An  early  instance,  probably  the  first  from  those  islands,  of  this 
sacrifice  on  the  part  of  the  parent,  for  the  benefit  of  the  child, 
that  the  latter  might  receive  the  benefit  of  a  European  education. 

It  was  at  Lancaster,  at  the  house  of  one  of  those  Friends,  that 
J.  C.  Lettsom  first  saw  Samuel  Fothergill,  who  afterwards  (with 
John  Pickering,  of  Tortola,)  became  his  guardian.  The  youth 
was  placed  at  Penketh,  and  was  several  years  a  scholar  there 
with  Gilbert  Thompson.  The  pupils,  fifty  or  sixty  in  number, 
were  most  of  them  boarded  out  in  the  houses  of  Friends  in  the 
neighbourhood.  The  school-house  was  contiguous  to  the  meet- 
ing-house, and  continued,  with  some  short  intervals,  to  be  used 
for  the  same  purpose,  down  to  the  year  1828.  This  school, 
under  the  able  government  of  Gilbert  Thompson  and  his  father, 
enjoyed  a  high  reputation  ;  and  it  is  recorded,  that  during  the 
forty  j'ears  that  the  son  "  presided  in  this  happy  place,  one  death 
only  had  occurred  amongst  the  scholars.  This  was  Springett 
Penn,  the  son  and  heir  of  the  then  proprietor  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  he,  it  is  said,  was  consumptive,  when  he  first  entered  the 
school." 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  J.  C.  Lettsom  was  placed  as  an 
apprentice  with  Abraham  SutclifF,  a  surgeon,  at  Settle.  To 
this  place  he  travelled,  from  Warrington,  upon  a  pack-horse, 
which  used  to  pass  from  Lancashire  into  Yorkshire.  In  after 
life  he  thus  mentions  the  circumstance  ;  "  I  went  to  Settle,  a 
fatherless  lad.  I  rode  alone  from  the  house  of  my  guardian, 
Samuel  Fothergill,  at  Warrington.     When  we  parted,  he  ad- 


494 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1770. 


dressed  me  thus — '  Please  thy  master;  and,  if  thou  turnest  out 
well,  I  will  recommend  thee  to  my  brother,  the  doctor  ;  and  ne- 
ver forget,  that  to  be  good  is  to  be  happy.' " 

On  completing  his  apprenticeship,  he  went  to  London,  and 
thence  to  the  Island  of  Tortola,  where  he  practiced  as  a  physi- 
cian. He  returned  to  England  in  1768,  and  finally  settled  in 
London,  where  he  commenced  practice,  under  the  protection  of 
Dr.  Fothergill,  to  whom  his  guardian  had  recommended  him  ; 
and,  by  the  introduction  of  the  doctor,  he  advanced  rapidly  in 
his  profession.  In  1770,  he  was  married  to  Ann  Miers,  with 
whom  he  received  a  considerable  fortune.  In  1774,  Dr.  Lett- 
som,  Dr.  Harvey,  and  a  few  others,  formed  the  Humane  Society, 
for  the  recovery  of  persons  apparently  drowned.  Twenty-two 
years  before  this.  Doctor  Fothergill  had  addressed  to  the  Royal 
Society  a  paper  on  the  same  subject,  but  it  was  not  then  pur- 
sued. 

Bj'  the  decease  of  Dr.  Fothergill,  in  1780,  a  great  accession 
was  made  to  the  medical  practice  of  Dr.  Lettsom,  who  has  ac- 
knowledged, in  warm  and  grateful  terms,  how  largely  he  was 
indebted  to  his  departed  friend  and  patron.  He  continued,  for 
a  long  course  of  years,  actively  engaged  as  a  physician,  and  in 
the  establishment  and  management  of  various  medical,  scienti- 
fic, and  benevolent  institutions.  To  the  popularity  thus  acquir- 
ed, to  the  standing  he  so  rapidly  attained  by  the  patronage  of 
Dr.  Fothergill,  combined  with  his  own  kind  and  amiable  tem- 
per, and  the  active  benevolence  of  his  character,  may  be  as- 
cribed the  success  which  attended  him,  and  the  lucrative  prac- 
tice which  he  enjoyed  for  many  years,  rather  than  to  the  pos- 
session of  great  natural  talents,  much  depth  of  medical  know- 
ledge, or  peculiar  skill  in  his  profession. 

He  died  in  London,  on  the  1st  of  11th  Mo.,  1815,  in  the  71st 
year  of  his  age. 


^TAT.  54.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


495 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  A.  T. 

Warrington,  1770. 
Had  my  bodily  ability  been    nearer  equal  to  my 
affectionate  solicitude  for  thee,  and  more  particularly  on  thy  late 
very  dangerous  illness,  I  had  ere  now  paid  thee  a  visit.  Thou 
hast  been  the  almost  constant  object  of  my  attention,  and  as  I 
feel  a  tenderness  for  thee  as  if  my  own  child,  permit  me  a  little 
to  relieve  my  thoughts,  by  an  attempt  at  expression.    Thy  own 
reflections  will  instantly  suggest  the  subject — that  dangerous 
habit  of  drinking  more  strong  liquor  than  nature  requires,  and 
than  thy  constitution  can  bear.    A  custom  which  hath  grown 
upon  thee,  until  it  has  become  habitual,  and  which  I,  along 
with  many  others,  look  upon  as  the  cause  of  those  dangerous 
attacks  in  which  thy  life  hath  been  imminently  endangered.  I 
have  not  been  frequent  in  advice  to  thee  on  this  head ;  I 
have  silently  observed  it ;  and  a  hope  hath  at  times  arisen,  that 
thy  own  good  sense,  aided  by  many  a  secret  conviction  of  mis- 
conduct in  this  respect,  by  that  Power  which  hath  often  and 
mercifully  striven  with  thee,  might  have  fully  opened  thy  eyes, 
to  see  and  to  rouse  all  within  thee  to  seek  to  avoid  that  wreck 
of  peace,  reputation,  comfort,  and  happiness,  to  which  intem- 
perance inevitably  leads.    Thou  hast  not  the  plea  which  many 
others  allege  for  it — domestic  disturbance  and  infelicity.  Thy 
wife  most  affectionately  disposed  to  make  thy  moments  happy 
and  peaceful,  and  to  remove  every  occasion  which  might  lead 
to  seek  a  temporary  relief  by  intemperance.    Her  relations  love 
thee,  as  much  as  if  the  relation  was  by  consanguinity  :  we  know 
no  difference  ;  and  with  the  utmost  solicitude  interest  ourselves 
in  thy  happiness.    The  allurements  of  company,  the  progression 
of  custom  to  habit,  have  been  too  prevalent,  and  almost  rendered 
drinking  necessary  to  thy  constitution  ;  at  least,  induced  thee  to 
think  so,  and  to  act  in  consequence.    Time  after  time,  painful 
conviction  of  its  tendency,  by  the  decay  of  thy  health,  hath 
attended ;  and  I  believe  desires  and  resolutions  have  taken  place, 


496 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1770. 


for  wiser  conduct  in  future  time.  But,  alas  !  too  fleeting  have 
these  proved,  and  returning  health  been  sacrificed  to  the  gratifi- 
cation of  an  irregular  desire,  and  the  solicitations  of  companions. 
Bear  with  me  in  these  remarks — thou  knows  they  are  loo  true. 
I  want  not  to  upbraid  thee,  but  to  aid  and  strengthen  those 
wishes,  which,  I  believe,  thou  entertains,  after  more  peaceful 
times.  This  last  affecting  crisis  hath  united  in  it  all  the  instruc- 
tion and  alarm  which  can  possibly  be  given  in  time  ;  a  recovery 
from  the  brink  of  the  grave — a  reprieve  from  an  eternal,  un- 
changeable state — a  restoration  to  thy  family,  thy  friends,  and 
thy  connexions,  now  seems  to  us  a  pleasing  prospect,  and  an 
opportunity,  I  trust,  once  more  put  into  thy  hands,  to  retrieve 
thy  peace  of  mind,  thy  health,  and  reputation,  all  of  which  have 
been  deeply  affected.  This  seems  to  me  like  a  new  beginning. 
Thou  hadst  nearly  paid  the  debt  of  nature — thou  art  unex- 
pectedly raised  up.  Life  or  death,  peace  or  dismay,  honour  or 
reproach,  await  thy  choice.  In  this  situation  I  view  thee  with 
the  tender  anxiety  of  a  friend,  nay,  of  a  father,  earnestly  desirous 
thou  may  lay  hold  of  offered  mercy,  and  become  so  wise  and 
steady,  as  to  evince  thy  gratitude  to  a  gracious  Benefactor ; 
that  he  who  hath  been  thy  resurrection,  may  also  become  thy 
life.  Frequent,  I  believe,  have  been  thy  resolutions,  and 
strong  thy  desires,  in  past  times,  for  belter  conduct ;  but, 
alas  !  what  is  man,  unaided  by  that  Power  from  above,  in 
which  alone  is  sufficiency,  and  who  will  be  sought  unto  for 
his  help,  and  with  whom  we  must  be  co-workers,  and  take 
up  the  cross  to  those  inchnations  which  lead  to  evil.  May 
all  within  thee  be  excited  to  look  up  to  Him.  to  beseech  his 
protection,  to  walk  in  watchful  care  and  diligence  the  residue 
of  thy  uncertain  continuance  here.  This  will  certainly 
become  thy  duty,  and  present  and  eternal  interest ;  and 
although  it  may  expose  thee  to  the  disregard,  perhaps 
derision,  of  some  who  glory  in  their  shame,  yet  the  Divine 
peace,  the  pure  and  pleasing  evidence  of  well  done,  will 
make  abundant  amends.    If  ever  we  attain  to  sit  down  with 


^AT.  54.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


497 


the  Captain  of  our  salvation  in  his  kingdom,  we  must,  for  the 
joy  set  before  us,  despise  the  shame  and  endure  the  cross. 
And  oh  !  that  through  this  path  thou  may  secure  what  the  world 
can  neither  give  nor  take  away. 

My  heart  is  filled  with  love  and  strong  desire  for  thee,  my 
feeble  hand  incapable  of  using  my  pen  but  for  a  short  space  of 
time  :  this  may  render  the  letter  incoherent;  but  it  is  in  truest 
affection.  Oh  !  that  it  may  please  the  Almighty  to  bless  to  thee 
thy  escape  from  death.  May  he  give  thee  a  heart  to  seek  and 
fear  him,  lest,  upon  a  relapse  into  indiscretion,  a  worse  thing 
befall  thee  than  hath  hitherto  proved  thy  lot.  I  am,  in  the  great- 
est sincerity,  thine  in  every  bond  of  aflfection,  natural  and  divine. 

S.  F. 

DR.  FOTHERGILL  TO  THE  MEETING  FOR  SUFFERINGS. 

Near  Middlewich,  Cheshire,  8th  Mo.,  20th,  1770. 
Dear  Friends, 

As  you  are  frequently  in  my  thoughts  when  absent 
from  you,  an  inclination  seemed  to  arise  in  my  mind,  just  to 
express  the  cordial  regard  I  feel  for  you,  both  as  a  body  and  as 
individuals.  Often  have  I  been  filled  with  thankfulness,  that 
my  lot  has  been  cast  amongst  you.  Much  benefit  have  I  re- 
ceived from  the  wisdom  that  hath  been  manifested  in  the  conduct 
of  your  affairs  ;  and  I  often  consider  you  as  an  assembly  of 
some  of  the  most  favoured  people  in  the  whole  city,  may  I  not 
say  in  the  whole  Society?  It  seldom  escapes  me,  when  I  sit 
down  with  you,  fervently  to  desire  that  we  may  always,  when 
we  meet,  feel  a  degree  of  that  solemn  awe,  which  I  am  sure  is 
often  felt  among  you,  and  that  none  may  go  away  without  being 
the  better  for  their  meeting.  And  I  esteem  it  a  signal  mercy, 
that,  in  the  midst  of  so  many  unavoidable  engagements,  in  the 
increase  of  which  I  think  my  heart  has  no  delight,  a  desire  is 
kept  alive  to  be  united  nearer,  if  possible,  to  every  tender  mind 
amongst  you  ;  to  profit  by  their  example,  and  to  be  divested  of 


498 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1770. 


every  thing  that  might  not  contribute  to  the  help  of  individuals, 
or  advantage  to  the  whole.  May  I  just  say,  that  I  fervently 
wish  an  awful  reverence  may  clothe  every  mind  when  we  are 
collected  together.  The  more  closely  and  steadily  we  can  unite 
here,  the  belter  we  shall  be  enabled  to  judge  properly,  and  act 
wisely,  concerning  the  things  that  are  brought  before  us. 

It  is  not  in  my  thoughts  to  esteem  myself  proper  to  give  ad- 
vice to  such  a  body  of  sensible  Friends,  whom  I  honour  in  the 
truth  ;  but  it  seemed  pleasingly  to  arise  in  my  mind,  to  testify 
my  brotherly  remembrance  by  these  few  lines,  and  to  be  a  kind 
of  prompter,  though  at  a  distance,  to  consider  your  importance 
in  regard  to  the  well-being  of  the  Society,  as  instruments  in  the 
hands  of  Providence  for  much  good ;  and  to  consider  what 
frame  of  mind  such  meetings  should  be  held  in.  I  know,  from 
experience,  that  many  of  you  come  together  with  such  disposi- 
tions ;  and  that  I  may  do  so  likewise,  that  others  who  may  even 
be  behind  me  may  come  up  in  the  same  earnest  endeavour  to 
be  what  they  should  be,  is  now,  and  often  has  been,  my  desire. 

It  is  not  boastingly,  but  with  a  degree  of  humble  gratitude, 
that  I  can  mention,  though  absent  from  you,  my  heart  is  with 
you  often.  This  favourable  recess  is  not  granted  that  it  may 
be  spent  in  dissipation  or  indolence.  I  wish  to  renew  my 
strength  both  of  body  and  mind,  and  to  seek  after  that  which 
can  renew  it  properly.  I  salute  you  in  much  affection,  and  am 
Your  friend  and  brother, 

John  Fothergill. 

In  the  8th  Mo.,  1770,  Samuel  Fothergill  was  again  at  Scar- 
borough, and  experienced  some  benefit  to  his  health  from  the 
visit :  he  was,  as  usual,  much  engaged  in  the  ministry ;  he 
thus  wrote  to  his  wife  : 

 "  I  got  safely  to  this  place,  yesterday,  and 

have  borne  my  journey  well,  beyond  my  expectation,  though 
the  weakness  continues  in  my  hand  and  feet-    I  was  enabled 


JSTAT.  55.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


499 


to  attend  the  meetings  here  lo-day,  which  were  large,  this  after- 
noon especially  ;  a  great  number  of  persons  of  distinction,  from 
divers  parts  of  the  nation,  were  present,  and  it  was  a  time  of 
memorable  favour.  I  am  humbly  thankful  to  feel  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  I  am  where  I  ought  to  be  ;  and  of  this  I  am  assured, 
that  if  we  forget  not  our  God  and  ourselves,  he  will  never  leave 
us,  but  will  be  merciful,  and  will  condescend  as  a  tender  father  to 
our  frailties." 

S.  F. 

In  the  12th  Month,  he  was  engaged  in  religious  service  in  the 
city  and  neighbourhood  of  London  ;  during  which,  accompanied 
by  John  Eliot,  he  visited  the  families  of  Friends  in  Westminster 
meeting.  The  number  of  visits  on  this  occasion  was  upwards 
of  fifty. 

The  visits  thus  paid,  in  three  successive  years,  to  the  families 
of  Friends  in  different  meetings  in  London,  may  be  regarded  as, 
on  his  part,  a  sacrifice  of  dedication  in  the  evening  of  his  hfe,  and 
as  setting  a  seal  to  his  former  abundant  labours  in  that  city. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  AND  SISTER. 

Warrington,  2d  Mo.,  2d,  1771. 

I  have  been  prevented  writing  to  either  of  you  again, 
before  now.  And,  indeed,  I  have  silently  fed  on  the  pleasure 
arising  from  our  late  interview ;  something  language  cannot 
express  hath  often  covered  my  spirit,  in  humble  thankfulness  to 
that  Hand  which  hath  preserved  us  hitherto,  mutually  dear  to 
each  other,  and  not  strangers  to  the  most  durable  ties  of  the  uni- 
versal family  of  our  Heavenly  Father.  May  we  carefully  guard 
against  every  thing,  however  pleasing,  of  which  the  tendency  is 
to  enfeeble  that  life  which  is  everlasting  and  precious.  We  are 
hastening  through  mutable  to  immutable  things,  and  we  have  all 
great  need  to  have  the  pure  mind  often  stirred  up,  lest  the  Mas] 


500 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1771. 


ter  of  the  liouse  come,  and  find  us  either  sleeping  or  ill  em- 
ployed. My  return  home  was  in  much  quiet ;  I  endeavoured, 
in  the  course  of  my  labour,  to  keep  close  company  with  the 
seed.  Few  are  the  places  where  it  reigns.  I  was  thankful  to 
feel  I  had  not  forgot  it  in  prison  ;  and,  whatever  may  be  the 
consequence  to  others,  the  peaceful  evidence  of  the  discharge  of 
my  duty  sweetly  stays  my  own  mind.  I  never  felt  more  re- 
newed in  that  love  which  is  stronger  than  death,  with  a  com- 
fortable assurance  that  our  father's  God  and  ours  is  graciously 
mindful  of  us  hitherto,  and  wills  our  preservation  to  our  latest 
time.  May  a  just  sense  of  the  value  and  necessity  of  this  im- 
portant favour  ever  rest  so  properly  on  our  minds,  as  to  quicken 
our  diligence  to  know  and  to  do  his  good  and  acceptable  will, 
that  we  may  arrive  at  the  recompence  of  a  happy  reward.  The 
times  require  labour  ;  and  it  ought  to  be  often  on  our  minds,  as 
a  powerful  inducement  to  it,  that  we  have  received  from  the 
Lord  of  the  vineyard  abilities  for  service,  superior  in  some  mea- 
sure to  some  of  our  fellow  servants  ;  and  where  much  is  given, 
much  will  be  required.  There  cannot  be  any  employment  or 
acquisition  equally  beneficial,  to  us  and  to  the  Church,  with  that 
which  results  to  a  devoted  mind,  solicitous  above  all  to  fill  up 
our  duty  in  the  highest  service.  May  we  ever  consider  it,  and 
at  the  close  of  our  time  experience  it  as  a  most  necessary  truth. 

S.  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JOHN  HUSTLER* 

Warrington,  4th  Mo.,  1771. 

The  contents  of  thine  respecting  Cornelius  Cayley, 
and  the  copy  of  his  application  to  Friends  of  Leeds  Meeting, 

*  John  Hustler  resided  at  Undercliff,  near  Bradford,  and  was  dis- 
tinguished by  his  usefulness  and  public  spirit.  Benevolent  and 
indefatigable  in  his  exertions  to  promote  the  interests  of  his  fellow- 
men,  to  him  the  town  of  Bradford  owed  its  public  hall  for  the  sale 
of  worsted    stuffs,    the  staple   manufacture  of  the  neighbourhood ; 


iETAT.  55.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


501 


have  been  much  in  my  thoughts.  I  have  hitherto  been  a 
stranger  to  the  person  and  his  case.  I  read,  some  years  ago, 
many  of  the  journals  of  those  exercised  in  endeavoring  to  pro- 
mote the  revival  of  Christianity,  but  there  appeared  to  me  so 
much  of  the  nature  of  those  things  that  the  day  of  the  Lord 
should  come  upon,  so  fully  described — Isaiah  ii.  10,  to  the  end 
of  the  chapter,  that  I  declined  the  search,  in  hopes  that  the  win' 
novving  power  of  Truth  would  separate  the  wheat  from  the  chaff, 
in  minds  pure,  upright,  and  sincere  ;  and  that  the  Power  which 
prepared  the  eyes  of  the  man  blind  from  his  birth,  by  spitting  on 
the  clay,  and  finishes  his  marvellous  work  by  sending  him  to 
the  "  pool  of  Siloam,"  or  to  the  sent,  for  washing,  might,  in  the 
same  line,  and  by  the  efficacy  of  the  word  of  his  mouth — which 
is  as  a  two-edged  sword,  and  whose  entrance  giveth  light  and  life 
— have  led  them  into  that  which  is  within  the  veil,  and  impene- 
trable to  the  eyes  which  have  only  been  anointed  with  the  spit- 
tle on  their  earth  ;  and  for  this  my  soul  hath  often  been  baptized 
in  humble,  fervent  prayer. 

The  person  under  immediate  notice  claims,  and  hath  my  sym- 
pathy ;  I  believe  him  joined  to  all  the  living,  through  the  quick- 
ening virtue  of  the  life-giving  word,  and  I  earnestly  pray  for  his 
complete  formation,  as  a  vessel  meet  for  the  Master's  use  ;  yet 
a  secret  and  painful  jealousy  afiects  me,  that  patience  halh  not 
had  its  perfect  work,  to  lead  him  into  all  the  unutterable  depths 
of  the  Lord's  preparing  day,  nor  all  the  idols  cast  to  the  moles 
and  to  the  bats  ;  my  jealousy  arises  from  the  activity  of  distin- 
guished self,  which  loves  the  splendid,  pleasant  picture  ;  an  easy 
purchase,  in  comparison  of  the  deep-hidden  pearl  of  substantial 
Truth.  We  sorrowfully  know  that  we  have  amongst  us  tradi- 
tional formalists,  having  a  name  only,  by  outward  inheritance ; 

and  to  him  the  nation  is  indebted  for  the  project  of  uniting  the  East- 
ern and  Western  Seas,  by  the  formation  of  the  Leeds  and  Liverpool 
Canal,  to  the  completion  of  which  he  devoted,  with  unwearied  atten- 
tion and  perseverance,  many  years  of  his  life,  lie  died  11th  month, 
6th,  1790,  aged  75. 


502 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1771. 


yet  there  remains  a  worm  Jacob,  the  feeble,  yet  faithful  wrestler 
with  God  amongst  us,  whose  hfe  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God, 
and  who,  through  the  virtue  of  the  sacred  unction,  have  not  an 
absolute  need  of  man's  teaching,  but  are  gathered  in  spirit  into 
the  Lord's  mountain,  where  the  Lord  of  Hosts  makes  unto  all 
his  people  a  feast  of  fat  things,  and  where  he  destroys  the  face 
of  the  covering,  and  the  veil  that  is  spread  over  all  nations.  But 
the  formalists  amongst  us  are  in  the  same  life,  with  all  the  family 
under  the  veil,  and  the  face  of  the  covering,  and  not  having  on 
the  garment  of  needle-work,  wrought  in  a  course  of  experience, 
have  not  a  right  to  this  feast  on  the  Loi'd's  mountain,  but  feed 
on  perishable  husks ;  and  a  superficial  ministry,  of  the  same 
birth,  and  moving  on  the  same  ground,  feeds  itself  with  the  like 
food,  fills  its  belly  with  the  east  wind,  and  empties  its  chilling 
qualities  on  the  superficial  dependents  on  human  help. 

The  testimony  given  us  as  a  people,  in  various  branches,  hath 
been  a  stone  of  stumbing,  and  a  rock  of  offence,  to  many,  who 
have  wished  for  our  crown,  without  our  cross,  and  have  over- 
looked and  despised  the  peculiarity  of  our  testimony,  or  the 
Lord's  Testimony  by  and  through  us.  The  language,  fashions, 
and  customs  of  the  world  though  by  many  esteemed  indiffer- 
ent, are  not  so  to  us,  but  are  a  part  of  the  growth,  the  under- 
wood of  the  lofty  Lebanon,  which  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  to  come 
upon,  as  well  as  upon  the  tall  cedars  ;  and  when  that  day  comes, 
it  will  burn  as  an  oven,  indiscriminately,  with  prevailing  heat, 
and  leave  them  neither  root  nor  branch.  All  who  have  entered 
into  fellowship  with  us,  through  the  baptism  of  Christ,  the  true 
door  of  entrance,  have,  not  from  imitation,  but  clear  conviction, 
found  this  compliance  their  indispensable  duty.  We  might 
have  many  preachers  break  in  upon  us,  were  we  at  liberty  to 
admit  them  upon  the  partial  foundation  of  general  speculative 
truths,  without  their  coming  to  the  unity  of  the  Spirit,  which 
unites  faithfulness  to  the  Lord's  statutes  and  testimonies  to 
us,  and  hy  us  to  the  world.  How  far  the  person  in  question 
may  have  seen  into  this  Testimony  I  know  not,  but  this  I  know, 


iETAT.  55.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


503 


many  of  those  called  Methodists  (their  preachers  especially) 
rather  contemn  than  approve  this  peculiar  dispensation,  which, 
the  longer  I  live,  the  more  clearly  I  see  to  be  from  Heaven, 
agamst  that  spirit  which  rules  in  all  carnality,  whether  notorious 
in  obvious  evil,  more  concealed  in  the  walks  of  formality,  or 
more  refined  and  fallacious  in  the  outward  court  of  the  temple. 

I  cannot  well  omit  a  passage  in  C.  C.'s  letter,  expressing 
that  "  the  life  begins  to  send  up  fresh  sap  into  my  dead  earth, 
"  and  the  blind  in  me  begins  to  see,  the  deaf  to  hear,  and  the 
"  dumb  to  speak."  I  believe  this  is  really  the  truth,  and  a  strong 
description  of  an  infantile  state,  a  resurrection  from  being  buried 
in  a  baptism  of  death,  into  a  new  life,  and  yet  scarcely  grown 
up  into  a  capacity  of  preaching  the  everlasting  Gospel  of  salva- 
tion. The  forty  days'  retreat  into  the  desert,  previous  to  the 
ministrj^  of  the  Holy  Jesus,  seems  to  me  not  fully  accomplished. 

I  feel  much  for  C.  C. ;  I  love  him  ;  I  wish  to  give  him  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship  in  the  Lord  Jesus ;  his  spirit  is  near 
my  life  ;  and  oh  that  he  may  endure  the  Lord's  preparing  day  ! 
that  he  may  come  out  of  Egypt  clear,  and  unmixed  with  any  of 
those  things  which  veil  the  beauty  of  the  Lord's  workmanship. 
I  hope  Friends  will  be  tender  towards  him,  yet,  for  his  own 
sake,  and  the  Testimony's,  firm  and  steady,  for  this  will  be  be- 
neficial to  him,  if  he  ever  comes  in  at  the  right  door.  I  recom- 
mend Friends  concerned,  and  this  person,  to  a  deep  inward  at- 
tention to  the  great  Minister  of  the  sanctuary,  that  in  his  coun- 
sel and  wisdom  all  may  move,  and  the  precious  unity  of  the  one 
Eternal  Spirit  may  be  known  to  run  into  the  nethermost  skirts 
of  their  garments. 

I  am,  thy  affectionate  friend,  in  deep  travail  for  Zion's  beauty, 
that  none  who  love  her  may  fail  of  the  salvation  within  her 


504 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1771. 


Cornelius  Cayley,  to  whose  case  the  foregoing  letter  relates, 
had  addressed  to  Friends  of  Leeds,  where  he  then  resided,  a 
letter  setting  forth  his  religious  state  and  past  experience, 
wherein  he  mentions,  that  for  thirteen  years  he  had  preached 
whenever  he  could,  "  not,  having  freedom  to  be  in  any  particular 
connexion  of  people  ;"  but,  having  been  brought  to  a  closer 
unity  with  the  principles  of  Friends,  he  requested  to  be  united 
with  them  in  religious  membership.  Some  visits  were  made 
to  him  b}'  the  Friends  appointed,  but  after  a  few  months  he 
ceased  to  attend  the  meetings  of  Friends  and  the  case  was 
therefore  ended.  S.  Fothergill  evidently  had  some  fears  that 
this  individual  was  not  yet  clear  of  the  activity  of  self.  The 
views  contained  in  his  letter  are  deep,  weighty,  and  instructive  ; 
whilst  liis  feelings  and  tenderness  manifest  that  he  was  actuated 
by  pure  gospel  love. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  SISTER. 

Warrington,  4th  Mo.,  8th,  1771. 

 Our  Northern  Yearly  Meeting  at  Chester 

approaches  fast,  and  brings  along  with  it  an  anxious  travail  that 
the  good  cause  and  glorious  name  may  be  magnified.  It  is  the 
Lord's  work,  and  his  is  the  strength  ;  and  I  believe,  if  all  flesh 
be  silent,  and  the  will  and  wrath  of  man  be  thoroughly  abased, 
he  will  pity  his  people,  and  arise  for  his  own  name's  sake. 

With  respect  to  Ireland,  I  cannot  see  myself  at  hberty  to  be 
elsewhere  than  at  Chester,  the  first  day  after  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing there.  If  a  good  opportunity  and  a  fair  wind  serve,  we  shall 
go  down  to  Parkgate  ;  otherwise,  by  Holyhead,  and  have  no 
doubt  of  our  being  in  Dublin  time  enough  for  their  National 
Meeting.  But  all  this  with  filial,  reverent  submission  to  ray 
Heavenly  Father. 

S.  F. 


^TAT.  55.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


505 


The  allusion  made  to  Ireland,  in  the  preceding  letter,  related 
to  a  visit  which  Samuel  Folhergill  made  about  this  time.  He 
accompanied  two  of  his  nieces  to  DubHn ;  one  of  them,  Mary 
Watson,  having  been  then  recently  married,  was  on  her  way  to 
her  future  residence,  at  Waterford.  He  attended,  whilst  in 
Dublin,  the  National  Meeting,  and  his  services  on  that  occasion 
are  thus  mentioned  by  Richard  Shackleton. 

"  I  would  give  thee  a  further  detail  of  our  Meeting,  if  I  could  re- 
member it ;  but,  as  one  billow  succeeds  another,  so  one  exercis- 
ing opportunity  follows  so  closely  upon  another,  in  my  deep  wad- 
ings  and  weary  stoppings  along,  that  I  cannot  always  retain  parti- 
culars in  my  remembrance.  The  meetings  have  been  uncom- 
monly large  and  crowded.  It  has  been  almost  wholly  the  lot  of 
our  friend,  Samuel  Folhergill,  to  burn  incense  publicly.  He  is 
indeed  carried  on  wonderfully.  His  Master  dignifies  him,  and 
exalts  his  testimony  through  him.  He  is  made  like  the  shew 
bread  on  the  altar — some  sacred  symbol,  that  is  eminently  con- 
spicuous, attended  with  a  degree  of  glory,  in  order  to  attract 
and  engage  a  people  too  much  outward,  and,  if  possible,  by 
instrumental  means,  enamour  them  with  the  beauty  which  is  in 
the  Truth.  Such  is  the  mercy  and  condescension  of  the  Creator, 
who  uses  various  means  in  wisdom,  that  his  creatures  may  not 
perish  for  ever;  and  leaves  all  without  excuse,  that  their  perdi- 
tion may  be  of  themselves.  The  London  queries  (as  proposed 
by  S.  Fothergill)  were  read  and  answered  yesterday,  in  the 
meeting  of  conference  of  Friends  of  both  sexes.  Samuel  was 
beautifully  drawn  forth  upon  this  occasion,  as  usual.  The  pub- 
lic meeting  to-day  was  very  large,  and  he  was  concerned  in 

testimony,  also  feelingly  and  fervently  in  supplication  I 

have  had  close  employment  upon  committees,  &c.,  so  that,  at 
home  or  abroad,  there  seems  little  rest  to  the  sole  of  my  foot. 
Neither  is  it  in  oil  that  I  dip  it  when  it  does  rest ;  but  if  it  re- 
turns to  the  ark  of  the  testimony,  and  sinks  or  swims  along  with 
it,  I  may  be  satisfied." — {R.  Shackleton  to  his  father,  Abraham 

Shackleton,  4th  Mo.,  30th,  1771.) 
65 


606 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1771. 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  MARY  WATSON. 

Warrington,  6th  Mo.,  13th,  1771. 

Often,  very  often,  since  we  parted,  hath  my  heart 
expanded  in  the  tenderest  affection  towards  thee,  my  dearly  be- 
loved niece,  and  all  the  affectionate  feehngs  of  a  mind  solici- 
tous for  thy  happiness,  from  the  united  ties  of  nature  and  Di- 
vine love  have  been  strong  with  me.  Thou  hast  been  the  daily 
companion  of  my  mind.  Often  have  I  wished  to  write  to  thee  ; 
as  often,  hitherto,  prevented,  by  many  intervening  avocations, 
and,  indeed,  an  incapacity  of  expressing  what  I  feel,  and  what 
I  want  to  say.  My  experience  hath  taught  me  to  believe,  that 
the  lighter  sensations  of  the  mind  flow  from  the  tongue  or  pen 
with  ease  ;  but  there  is  known  to  a  delicate  mind  certain  sea- 
sons, when  all  the  powers  of  language  are  baffled,  and  the  most 
copious  expression  is  very  imperfect. 

For  thee,  my  beloved  relative,  this  is  much  the  state  of  my 
mind.  Fervent  beyond  the  force  of  mere  nature  are  my  desires 
for  thy  happiness,  in  the  most  extensive  sense  of  the  word ;  and 
a  hope  accompanies  my  wish  that  it  may  be  granted  thee.  Let 
the  language  of  the  experience  of  thy  progenitors  powerfully 
prevail — let  the  language  of  truth  to  thy  own  mind  in  the  cool  of 
the  day  confirm  it — that  religion  and  happiness  are  synonymous 
terms.  In  the  name  of  the  God  of  heaven  and  earth  set  up  thy 
banner.  Now,  in  thine  entrance  on  the  public  walks  of  life,  seek 
carefully  after  the  durable  riches  of  righteousness — after  the 
blessing  of  that  Hand  which  builds  up  families  on  the  solid  foun- 
dation of  unshaken  peace,  and  sanctifies  every  dispensation, 
whether  joyous  or  painful ;  for  great  is  the  necessity  of  having 
our  prosperity  sanctified,  lest  we  grow  full,  and  forget  the  giver, 
and  prostitute  his  favours  to  purposes  repugnant  to  his  design 
and  our  essential  good.  Happy  is  the  cabin  of  sorrow  and 
penury,  in  comparison  of  the  palace  of  unsanctified  affluence. 
Thy  mind  happily  established  in  the  pursuit  of  the  Divine  bless- 


^TAT.  55.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


507 


ing,  thou  wilt  not  be  unmindful  of  thy  duty  as  an  individual, 
nor  insensible  of  the  obligation  to  fill  it  up  before  God  and  his 
church.  Oh,  that  now,  in  the  bloom  of  youth,  and  having 
before  thee  the  lengthening  prospect  of  all  the  world  calls  good, 
thy  mind  might  be  turned  steadily  and  fervently  to  His  service, 
who  hath  called  thee  with  a  high  and  holy  calling ;  that,  by  a 
religious  dedication  of  all  thy  faculties,  thou  mayest  be  rendered 
an  instrument  of  good,  in  these  days  wherein  the  gates  of  Zion 
do  mourn. 

Thy  beloved  companion,  thy  bosom  friend,  in  an  inexpressibly 
dear  relation,  claims  thy  help,  thy  sympath)'^,  and  thy  assistance, 
in  the  most  interesting  concern.  Prudence,  economy,  and  the 
domestic  offices,  are  to  be  filled  up  with  propriety,  that  thou 
mayest  fill  up  the  valuable  relations,  and  be  adorned  with  the 
qualities,  so  beautifully  described,  Prov.  chap.  xxxi.  ver.  12  to 
the  end.  And,  above  all,  to  promote  his  truest  interest,  for 
which  I  believe  he  is  at  times  properly  anxious  to  go  hand  in 
hand  up  lo  the  house  of  the  Lord,  to  the  mountain  of  the  house 
of  the  God  of  Jacob.  Associate  with  such  amongst  you  who 
may  strengthen  thee  in  the  best  things — be  diligent  in  the 
attendance  of  meetings  for  worship  and  discipline — make  a  point 
of  it  to  attend  week-day  meetings.  Evidence  to  others,  my  dear 
child,  that  the  precepts  I  have  wished  to  instil  into  thy  mind 
have  not  been  disbelieved,  nor  my  anxious  solicitude  for  thee  an 
unavailing  care. 

Cherish  the  affection  of  thy  dear  companion  with  a  delicate 
solicitude  ;  give  him  no  pain  in  things  seemingly  trivial ;  antici- 
pate his  desires  with  alacrity ;  this  will  secure  mutual  esteem, 
and  establish  reciprocal  happiness.  Esteem  is  looked  upon  as  a 
cool  word  in  comparison  of  many  others,  as  relative  to  conjugal 
felicity  ;  but  if  it  seem  not  sufficiently  ardent,  it  is  the  permanent 
basis  of  union.  When  the  short-lived  fervour  of  the  passions  halh 
subsided,  and  cool  judgment  opened  its  discerning  eye,  affection 
deliberate,  steady  affection,  hath  selected  that  which  is  estimable 
as  its  treasure,  and  laid  a  deep  foundation  to  build  upon,  which 


508 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1771. 


halh  stood  the  shock  of  future  trials,  and  supported  in  the  various 
perturbations  of  life,  and  blessed  in  every  allotment.  But  where 
an  exterior  hath  been  the  chief  good,  and  this  not  supported  with 
really  estimable  qualities,  short-lived  hath  the  comfort  of  such 
been  ;  for  no  mind  can  long  love  the  object  the  judgment  cannot 
esteem. 

Imagine  not,  my  dear  Mary,  that  I  write  this  from  any  jealousy 
of  its  being  necessary  for  thy  guard.  I  revive  sentiments  thou 
often  entertains,  and  indulge  myself  with  familiar  conversations 
with  one  I  love  as  a  father  does  his  child.  I  am,  dear  Mary, 
with  the  assurance  of  best  aflfection,  thy  uncle,  truly  solicitous 
for  thy  welfare,  S.  F. 

Mary  Watson  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Hannah 
Fothergill,  and  was  born  at  Warrington,  in  1750.  Her  parents 
both  dying  when  she  was  young,  she  was  much  under  the  care 
and  guardianship  of  her  uncle  Samuel,  whose  tender  and  reli- 
gious concern  for  her  welfare,  added  to  the  effect  of  his  pious 
example,  proved  instrumental  in  turning  her  feet  into  that  path 
wherein  she  afterwards  so  conspicuously  walked.  In  very  early 
life  her  mind  was  susceptible  of  the  immediate  influence  of 
Divine  grace,  and  she  derived  advantage  from  the  perusal  of 
the  dying  sayings  of  Friends.  In  the  year  1771,  she  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Robert  Watson,  of  Walerford,  in  which  city 
she  resided  until  her  decease.  In  1783,  she  was  deprived  by 
death  of  her  husband ;  but  in  this  and  some  other  trials,  through 
which  she  had  to  pass  about  the  same  time,  she  was  enabled  to 
cast  her  care  on  Him  who  graciously  condescended  to  sustain 
through  all.  About  this  period,  it  was  sealed  on  her  mind 
that  she  would  be  called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  in  which 
she  first  appeared  in  the  year  1786,  and  being  obedient  to 
the  call  and  requirings  of  her  Heavenly  Master,  she  became 
valiant  in  his  service.  She  was  recorded  as  a  minister  in 
1789,  and  from  that  time,  until  within  a  few  years  of  her 
decease,  was  diligently  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  gospel, 


iETAT.  55.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


509 


and  travelled  much  therein,  both  in  England  and  Ireland.  She 
was  gifted  with  a  sound  judgment,  and  although  possessed  of 
good  natural  abilities,  she  was  often  led  to  testify  that  it  is  only 
through  the  power  of  Christ  that  any  can  rightly  labour  in  his 
Church.  For  the  last  nine  years  of  her  life  she  was  deprived 
of  her  eye-sight,  a  trial  she  was  enabled  to  bear  with  Christian 
resignation  and  cheerfulness,  and  being  endued  with  superior 
talents  for  conversation,  united  to  much  kindness,  generosity, 
and  the  exercise  of  hospitality,  she  was  greatly  beloved  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends,  especially  the  young.  Her  expressions 
during  the  few  weeks  which  preceded  her  close,  evinced,  that 
while  the  outward  tabernacle  declined,  her  spirit  was  strong  in 
the  faith  ;  and  that  He  who  had  been  with  her  from  early  life, 
was  still  her  support  in  advanced  age.  In  the  morning  of  the 
day  of  her  decease,  she  audibly  supplicated  to  be  released,  soon 
after  which  there  was  an  evident  sinking,  yet  she  was  still 
favoured  with  clearness  of  intellect,  and,  apparently,  in  tranquil 
slumber,  she  quietly  breathed  her  last,  on  the  20th  of  12lh 
Month,  1834,  aged  84  years,  having  been  a  minister  about  48 
years. 

Excepting  William  Fothergili,  who  died  at  Carr-End,  in  1837, 
she  was  the  last  surviving  grandchild  of  John  Fothergili. 

In  the  fifth  Month,  1771,  Samuel  Fothergili  attended  for  the 
last  time  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  6th  Mo.,  7th,  1771. 

 A  public  Friend  from  North  Carolina  has 

arrived  ;  his  name  William  Hunt.  I  have  an  acceptable  account 
of  him  from  Thomas  Nicholson  and  James  Pemberton  :  he 
intends  to  visit  the  nation,  and  has  got  a  safe  retreat,  at  John 
ElHot's.  If  no  particular  service  is  before  thee  at  present,  let 
it  be  thy  especial  care  to  regard  thy  health  ;  and  consider  how 
to  repair  the  strength  that  has  been  so  unremittingly  expended, 


510 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1771. 


and  lay  up  a  little  stock  for  the  future.  Let  us  waste  as  little 
as  we  can  unnecessarily.  I  curb  myself  often,  however,  seem- 
ingly, I  am  engaged.  Let  us  hear  from  thee  frequently ;  it 
docs  us  all  good,  and  draws  us  nearer  together,  and  to  the 
spring  of  all  good.  The  publisher  of  thy  declaration  at  Leeds 
has  done  thee  great  justice.*  Neither  be  afraid  to  follow  the 
Divine  enlargements  of  thy  heart  in  public  service,  nor  fear  to 
be  little  and  simple,  when  the  pure,  holy  language  of  Truth 
stops  short.  Let  us  animate  one  another  (I  need  it  much)  to 
more  fervency,  more  inwardness,  and  stronger  wishes  to  be 
what  we  ought  to  be. 

We  are  favoured  with  health,  and  a  degree  of  contentmenti 
feeling  desires  after  a  release  from  bondage,  and  a  fuller  enjoy- 
ment of  true,  spiritual  liberty,  which  exceeds  the  temporal,  as 
heaven  is  higher  than  the  earth,  or  as  eternity  surpasses  the 

limits  of  time  Often  are  we  followed,  inexpressibly 

followed,  with  gracious  regard  from  above  :  may  our  hearts  be 
as  often  humbled  in  reverence  and  gratitude  to  the  source  of 
every  blessing.    Farewell,  dear  brother. 

L  F. 

SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  JAMES  JOLLY,  t 

Warrington,  10th  Mo.,  9th,  1771. 

Desires  for  thy  welfare  have  frequently  suggested 
sentiments,  which  indisposition  or  a  variety  of  engagements 
have  prevented   my  intimating  to  thee  ;  this  consideration 

*  A  sermon  publicly  delivered  at  a  meeting  held  in  Leeds,  26th  of  6th 
Month,  1769.  London,  4to.,  1771.  Several  editions  of  the  discourses  of 
S.  Fothergill  have  been  published  ;  the  most  complete  is  that  of  1792, 
long  since  out  of  print.  It  was  remarked,  by  some  of  those  who  had 
heard  them  delivered,  that  when  in  print  their  beauty  and  force  were  much 
lost. 

t  A  Friend,  of  Warrington,  then  about  to  embark  for  the  island  of  Tor- 
tola,  where  he  soon  afterwards  died. 


^TAT.  55.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  ,  oil 

has  also  prevailed — What  can  I  say  to  him  which  he  knows 
not,  either  with  respect  to  his  present  or  future  well-being? 
The  opportunities  of  information  outwardly,  and  the  impressions 
of  essential  truths  inwardly,  have  foreclosed  every  plea  of  ig- 
norance of  duty,  or  of  what  makes  for  peace.  But  remember, 
that  happiness  consisteth  not  in  knowledge  ;  the  words  of  our 
Lord  are — "  If  ye  know  these  things,  happy  are  ye  if  ye  do 
them."  My  soul  seeks  earnestly  that  the  blessing  of  faithful- 
ness may  accompany  the  privilege  of  knowledge  ;  otherwise, 
the  greater  will  be  the  condemnation. 

Thy  lot  is  changed  from  the  warm  bosom  of  society  to  a  land 
of  drought,  where  the  distilling  of  heavenly  doctrine  outwardly 
as  the  dew  is  little  known,  and,  with  many,  little  desired.  Ne- 
vertheless, those  who  seek  wisdom,  so  as  to  be  made  wise  unto 
salvation,  may  find  in  themselves  the  flowings  of  that  river 
which  makes  glad  the  whole  city  of  God.  Feel  after  this  in 
thy  own  heart  to  preserve  thee  among  the  few  names  in  that 
Sardis  who  walk  in  white,  and  have  not  defiled  their  garments; 
that  so  thy  peace  may  be  promoted,  and  others  helped.  Think 
of  this  awful  query — What  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  could  gain 
the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul? 

The  climate  is  often  unhealthy ;  let  it  put  thee  upon  thy 
guard,  in  every  respect,  and  raise  fervent  care,  that  whenever 
the  Master  of  the  house  cometh,  he  may  not  find  the  sleeping, 
or  worse  employed. 

S.  F. 

In  the  10th  Month,  1771,  upon  his  return  from  the  last 
Quarterly  Meeting  at  Lancaster,  which  he  ever  attended, 
Samuel  Fothergill  was  seized  with  an  alarming  illness : 
extreme  faintness  and  loss  of  strength,  under  which  it  was 
thought  he  must  have  sunk,  were  succeeded  by  difficulty  of 
breathing;  his  nights  especially  were,  from  this  cause, 
alarming,  and  were  nearly  sleepless,  or  passed  in  broken 
slumbers,  distressing  to  himself  and  his  attendants.  Some 


512 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1771. 


of  the  symptoms  and  particulars  of  his  illness  are  mentioned  in 
several  of  the  following  letters  :  — 

SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  AND  SISTER. 

Warrington,  12th  Mo.,  2d,  1771. 
At  the  time  I  wrote  you  last,  and  for  several  days  since, 
I  thought  there  was  little  probability  of  my  corresponding  more 
with  you,  in  a  manner  suited  to  our  present  state  ;  and,  under 
the  feeling  of  what  neither  tongue  nor  pen  could  express,  I  was 
enabled  to  offer  my  sacrifice  on  this  manner,  Into  thine  hands, 
O  Lord,  1  commit  our  spirits  :  mine,  for  its  refuge  and  hiding 
in  safety ;  yours  to  fill  up  your  militant  allotment,  that  far  dis- 
tant years  of  faithful  services  may  be  by  you  accomplished,  be- 
fore you  fully  enter  into  your  Master's  rest.  But  the  prospect 
seems  rather  more  open  with  some  expectation  of  longer  contin- 
uance ;  in  which  I  feel  much  resignation  and  quiet,  my  spirit 
being  humbly  committed  into  His  disposal  who  cannot  err. 

I  feel  no  external  pain,  nor  any  external  strong  pressure  about 
my  throat,  yet  a  constant  uneasiness  affects  the  upper  part  of 
my  stomach  with  lieat  and  soreness,  which  is  constant,  more  or 
less.  I  am  restricted  from  most  liquids  for  drink,  and  am  thank- 
ful my  occasion  for  them  is  less  than  at  some  other  times.  My 
blisters  confine  me,  they  contract  the  vessels  in  that  limb  like 
the  cramp  :  I  cannot  walk  without  two  crutches,  and  that  with 
pain.  My  sleepy  disposition  continues  ;  I  have  had  many  nods 
over  this,  which  I  cannot  continue  with  any  ease  to  myself  or 
YOU.    Your  affectionate 

S.  F. 

Addition  hy  Sarah  Taylor. 

I  came  here  to-day  to  see  my  justly-beloved  relation,  your 
dear  brother,  and  have  passed  the  afternoon  with  him,  much 
by  ourselves.  He  is  quiet,  composed,  and  wholly  resigned 
to  Divine  disposal,  yet  thinks,  at  times,  a  prospect  opens 


jETAT.  50.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  513 

towards  some  degree  of  health  for  a  htlle  future  service,  though 
he  is  much  reduced,  and  labours  under  various  complaints,  quite 
out  of  my  knowledge  as  to  their  nature  or  danger  ;  yet,  when 
I  heard  him  intimate  this,  melhought  the  feelings  of  my  mind 
renewed  some  ground  of  hope,  that  he  may  be  spared  a  little 
longer  for  the  Church's  sake  ;  but  if  not,  submission  is  our  duty, 
without  repining,  or  calling  in  question  the  rectitude  of  Divine 
Wisdom  in  his  varied  dispensations,  though  to  us  deeply  cut- 
ting and  afflictive  ;  it  is  needless  to  say  how  trying  and  painful 
that  will  be  to  many  of  us,  if  ministered  in  our  day  ;  however, 
it  behooves  us  to  step,  with  humble  care  and  fear,  in  the  line  of 
manifest  duty,  that  we  also  may  be  ready  for  the  solemn  close, 
and  may  centre  in  that  happy,  peaceful  rest  which  remains  for 
the  humble  followers  of  the  Lamb. 

Sarah  Taylor. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  12th  Mo.,  7th,  1771. 

We  received  thy  lively  and  affecting  remembrance  of  us 
with  much  thankfulness  to  the  great  Helper  and  Preserver  of 
us  all.  We  trust  it  will  not  soon  be  removed  from  our  minds, 
but  that  we  may  grow  in  desires  to  be  made  fit  receivers  of  such 
unmerited  mercies.  I  trust  thy  health  will  be  gradually  re- 
established ;  the  most  formidable  symptoms  are  at  least  at  a 
stand.  There  are  many,  many  Friends  here  very  anxious  for 
thy  recovery,  and  often  inquire  after  thee,  I  believe,  with  godly 
solicitude.  At  present,  mind  only  the  recovery  of  thy  health, 
looking  often,  as  I  know  thou  dost,  to  the  Arm  that  secretly 
sustains,  and,  under  much  bodily  weakness,  vouchsafes  to  re- 
new the  holy  covenant  of  love,  to  the  increase  of  thy  faith  and 
thy  further  purification.  Desire  thy  assistants,  when  they  ob- 
serve thee  to  begin  to  breathe  with  difficulty,  when  thou  art 
asleep,  to  awake  thee  gently,  and  bring  thee  some  sustenance 

immediately.    That  terrible  distress  upon  waking  is  the  effect 
66 


514 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1772. 


of  weakness,  and  may  be  lessened  much  by  awakening  ihee 
genlly,  when  that  struggle  begins  which  will  at  length  awake 
thee  in  a  hurry  not  to  be  described.  I.  F. 

In  the  12th  Month,  1771,  on  account  of  the  continued  illness 
of  her  brother,  Ann  Fothergill  went  down  to  Warrington,  to 
visit,  and  assist  in  the  care  of  him;  and  after  her  return,  wrote 
the  following  letter. 

ANN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HER  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  2d  Mo.,  22d,  1772. 

 I  cannot  well  portray  my  feelings.  I  have  re- 
visited Warrington  often  in  idea,  and  sympathized  with  thee  in 
thy  infirmities  and  various  distresses.  I  am  too  distant  to  step 
in,  and  know  the  particulars  of  thy  situation,  whether  thou  hast 
gained  even  the  least  advantage,  to  observe  it  with  proportionate 
satisfaction  and  thankfulness,  or  if  the  contrary,  to  represent  it 
where  I  hope  for  aid.  But  what  avails  our  solicitude  or  our 
anxiety  ?  We  are  in  the  disposal  of  superior  Power  and  Wis- 
dom, who  does  all  things  right.  'Tis  ours  to  study  to  co-ope- 
rate, whether  for  the  benefit  of  mind  or  body  ;  doubtless  both 
are  under  his  gracious  care  and  notice,  with  the  means  extend- 
ed for  our  help  and  benefit ;  this  brings  to  a  quiet  acquiescence 
and  peace  of  mind,  that  supports  in  the  deepest  trials,  and  is 
aptly  expressed  "  a  rest  to  the  soul,"  when  we  can,  in' a  rever- 
ent sense  of  his  power,  love,  and  goodness,  resign  ourselves, 
and  all  we  hold  dear,  into  his  hands,  as  the  most  faithful  helper 
and  everlasting  sufficiency.  May  this  be  our  ardent  pursuit, 
and  then  it  will  be  our  support  and  quiet  resting-place. 

A.  F. 


TAT.  56.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


515 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  ELIZABETH  JOLLEY,* 
(On  the  Death  of  her  Brother.) 

1772. 

There  is  not  one,  among  thy  sorrowful  acquaintance, 
who  hath  felt  the  force  of  sympathy  with  thee,  on  the  present 
afflicting  occasion,  with  greater  tenderness  than  myself.  I  own, 
I  seldom  choose  to  meet  the  painful  gush  of  sorrow  with  calm 
advice.  I  would  rather  mingle  the  tear  of  sympathy,  and  aid 
the  solemn  tribute  due  to  those  who  are  no  more.  Religion 
allows  it — for  his  friend,  Jesus  wept.  But  it  is  now  high  time 
for  the  violence  of  sorrow  to  subside,  and  the  mind  to  endea- 
vour after  a  calm  acquiescence  in  the  disposition  of  unerring 
Wisdom,  which  hath  numbered  the  hairs  of  our  heads,  and  not 
one  of  them  falls  to  the  ground  unnoticed  of  him.  I  know  some 
mournful  considerations  urge  for  a  place  with  thee :  a  beloved 
brother  dead,  on  a  distant  shore,  uncertain  whether  every  act 
of  tender  assistance  was  yielded  him.  But  remember,  dear 
friend,  the  provision  of  the  Highest  reached  him  there  ;  and  that 
the  everlasting  arm  supports  and  succours  the  islands  afar  off! 
I  have  not  a  doubt  of  his  being  admitted  where  the  wicked 
cease  from  troubling,  and  the  weary  are  at  rest. 

Endeavour,  therefore,  to  suppress  the  sigh  and  the  tear, 

*  She  afterwards  became  a  minister  in  the  Society,  and  was  married  to 
John  Bludwick,  of  Warrington,  a  valuable  cider.  They  were  bo»li  much 
esteemed,  for  their  conscientious  endeavours  to  walk  as  became  their  reli- 
gious profession,  for  their  devotedncss  to  the  service  of  the  Society,  and 
their  lively  concern,  for  the  support  of  its  discipline. 

She  suffered  much  from  bodily  disease  for  several  of  the  latter  years  of 
life,  with  great  patience  and  sweetness  of  spirit ;  and,  when  near  the 
close,  she  said,  "  I  shall  die  in  peace  with  all,  feeling  inexpressible  love  to 
every  one  :"  and  again,  "  Now,  Lord,  let  me  depart  in  peace,  for  mine 
eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation."  In  this  heavenly  slate  of  mind  she  quietly 
departed  this  life,  on  the  3d  of  1st  Month,  18 J8,  at  the  age  of  80. 


516 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1772. 


which  border  upon  murmuring.  Good  is  the  Lord  in  all  his 
works  ;  he  deals  with  his  family  in  a  wisdom  we  cannot  com- 
prehend. My  heart  is  too  full  for  language  to  discharge,  and 
my  feeble  hand  hardly  sustains  this  labour.  But  I  wanted  to 
mingle  with  thee  the  tear  of  condolence,  on  account  of  the  dear 
deceased  ;  and  to  endeavour  to  lead  to  a  calm  resignation,  and 
to  a  pursuit  of  riches,  unchangeable  in  their  nature,  and  ever- 
lasting in  their  duration. 

S.  F. 

ANN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HER  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  4th  Mo.,  18th,  1772. 
My  brother  is  much  engaged,  he  is  mostly  out  from 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  until  the  same  hour  or  later  in 
evening ;  when  he  comes  home  greatly  fatigued,  and  not  sel- 
dom in  apparent  anxiety  and  distress,  from  various  causes. 
Yet  it  is  neither  in  accumulating  this  world's  knowledge,  its 
various  productions,  the  good  things  belonging  to  it,  its  friend- 
ships, or  its  flatteries.  None  of  these  things  will  afford  lasting 
peace  and  comfort  to  the  mind.  I  think  they  all  tend  from  it, 
as  they  gain  upon  our  inclinations  and  attention,  if  I  know  any- 
thing of  the  way  to  solid  peace.  I  find,  for  myself  at  least,  the 
absolute  need  of  more  abstraction,  and  often  to  watch,  lest  the 
thief  insensibly  break  in  and  steal  away,  by  little  and  little,  our 
attention  and  entire  love  for  the  alone  worthy  and  adorable 
Object.  Our  dear  brother  is  exposed  to  an  arduous  warfare  ; 
his  provocations  and  temptations  are  very  many,  and  his  time 
is  spent  in  a  continued  scene  of  hurry,  that  his  preservation  is 
of  peculiar  favour,  merc)^,  and  grace  ;  in  a  sense  of  which,  as 
well  as  of  fear  and  care  for  my  own  safe  standing,  my  mind  is, 
through  continued  mercy,  at  times  deeply  humbled,  and  my 
heart  made  to  tremble  for  our  preservation  to  the  end,  which  is 
hastening  fast  to  the  youngest  of  us. 

Sarah  Morris,  and  her  niece  Deborah,  are  arrived  in  town. 


JETAT.  56.]  OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


517 


She  is  a  sensible,  cautious,  weighty  woman,  and  her  niece  a 
vahiable  friend,  an  affectionate  companion,  and  nurse  to  her 
worthy  aunt,  who  seems  feeble  and  diffident.  They  lodge  at 
Thomas  Corbvn's. 

A.  F. 

As  the  spring  of  the  year  advanced,  the  health  of  Samuel 
Fothergill  a  little  improved,  and  though  still  very  weak,  he  was 
able,  a  few  times,  to  go  out  in  a  carriage.  In  the  4th  Month 
he  thus  describes  his  situation,  in  a  letter  to  his  sister  : — "Yes- 
terday, I  was  remarkably  lanquid  and  faint ;  to-day  the  weather 
allowed  me  to  get  out  for  an  hour ;  I  am  better,  but  very  low 
and  languid,  and  know  not  how  to  exert  myself ;  there  seems 
in  every  case  a  lion  in  the  streets,  but  when  I  am  roused,  I 
move  with  less  difficulty  than  I  feared.  I  am  very  weak, 
though  able  to  rise  from  my  chair  and  walk  across  the  room 
alone  ;  my  flesh  is  much  gone.  Farewell,  dear  brother  and 
sister,  may  every  blessing  rest  upon  you  for  ever." 

This  improvement  in  his  health  was  transient;  in  the  follow- 
ing month  he  became  worse,  and  symptoms  of  confirmed  dropsy 
came  on.  He  was  attended  by  Doctor  Pemberton,  a  kind  and 
skilful  physician,  of  Warrington  ;  his  brother  also  came  down 
to  see  him  ;  every  remedy,  and  every  application  which  the 
eminent  skill  and  long  experience  of  Doctor  Fothergill  could 
suggest,  prompted  by  his  strong  affection  for  the  brother  whom 
he  so  tenderly  loved,  were  all  exerted  for  his  help  and  restora- 
tion— but  in  vain  ;  his  constitution  was  worn  out,  the  bodily 
powers  were  far  exhausted,  and  the  period  of  his  release  was 
now  near  at  hand, 

ANN  FOTHERGILL  TO  HER  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  5lh  Mo.,  27th,  1772. 
Thou  hast  my  affectionate  remembrance  and  tender 
sympathy,  in  this  long  lime  of  trial,  pain,  and  difficulty,  more 


518 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1772. 


than  I  can  express  ;  and  I  have  often  remembered  ihee  when 
on  my  pillow,  in  such  a  disposition  that  I  could  offer  myself  in 
thy  stead,  if  Providence  would  please  to  accept  so  mean  an 
offering,  and  restore  thee  to  health  and  service.  This  is  not, 
my  dear  brother,  a  rash,  inconsiderate,  or  presumptuous  thought, 
but  in  humble,  reverent  fear,  and  a  sense  of  my  own  nothingness, 
either  to  do  good  or  persevere  safely,  but  by  the  aid  of  infinite 
mercy,  and  the  just  preference  to  an  instrument  eminently  quali- 
fied to  be  serviceable,  and  a  beloved  brother.  But  the  disposal 
of  all  events  is  in  the  wisest  hands,  to  whom  belong,  worthily 
belong,  submission,  worship,  and  fear  ;  may  we  in  sincerity  of 
heart  say — "  Thy  will  be  done,"  which  is  no  more  than  our 
reasonable  duty ;  in  this  disposition,  our  complainings  are  si- 
lenced, and  we  confide  with  alacrity  in  His  wisdom  and  mercy, 
and  render  the  tribute  due  of  love  and  praise.  May  this,  both 
here  and  hereafter,  be  our  everlasting  employment. 

I  wish  we  may  endeavour  to  receive  our  different  trials  in 
such  a  disposition,  as  that  they  maybe  effectual  for  our  help, 
and  sanctified  to  us,  and  then  it  is  enough,  if  we  have  a  well- 
grounded  hope  hereafter,  and  it  is  a  stay  and  support  whilst  here. 
Many  Friends  inquire  after  thee  with  affectionate  sympathy  and 
regard.  The  unity  of  worthy  brethren  is  as  a  comfortable  cor- 
dial to  our  minds  in  times  of  difficulty,  and  I  believe  few  share 
it  more  than  thyself. 

A.  F. 

DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  5lh  Mo.,  20th,  1772. 

Though  I  have  shut  up  the  intercourse  on  thy 
part,  it  ought  not  to  deprive  thee  of  every  little  comfort 
which  our  near  and  affectionate  remembrance  can  afford 
thee,  under  thy  deep  distress— distressed  in  body,  and  often 
weighed  down  with  affliction  and  trials  within  ;  but  be  of 
good  comfort ;  receive  that  consolation  from  others  which 
thy  feeling,  sympathising  heart  has  been  the   means  of 


jETAT.  56.]  OP  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL.  ,  519 

conveying  to  many.  I  am  with  thee  often  in  mind,  and  if  I 
knew  how  to  add  to  thy  ease  and  thy  help  in  the  least 
degree,  I  need  not  tell  thee  how  much  it  would  add  to  my  own 
happiness.  Many,  many  Friends  here,  are  very  anxious  about 
thee,  and  I  believe  the  prayers  of  many  honest  hearts  are  for 
thy  preservation  amongst  us.  But  the  event  must  be  left  where 
it  ought  to  be — to  the  direction  of  sovereign  Wisdom.  Express 
to  those  about  thee  all  thou  wouldst  wish  to  say  to  us  ;  some  of 
them  will  convey  it  to  us.  If  I  should  mention  all  who  inquire 
after  thee,  1  must  fill  a  volume.  Let  it  suffice  that  the  living 
part  of  God's  heritage  sympathise  with  thee. 

Farewell,  our  brother,  our  friend,  our  joy,  in  that  which  alone 
deserves  the  name.    Farewell,  affectionately  ;  from  ihy 


SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  AND  SISTER. 

Warrington,  5th  Mo.,  30th,  1772. 
Though  I  am  at  present  attended  with  great  weak- 
ness, both  of  body  and  mind,  yet  I  thought  I  felt  towards 
you,  who  are  dearer  to  me  than  the  ties  of  nature,  merely  as 
such,  my  beloved  brother  and  sister,  a  salutation,  in  all 
probability. the  last  you  will  ever  receive  from  me,  in  inex- 
pressible affection ;  and  although  my  house  has  not  been  so 
with  God  as  that  of  some  others  who  have  walked  with 
greater  care  from  earliest  youth  with  him,  yet  now,  though 
in  great  bodily  weakness,  his  candle  shines  around  mine 
head,  and  at  times  an  unshaken  hope  that  the  God  of  our 
fathers  will  condescend,  in  the  multitude  of  his  mercies,  to 
receive  me  into  his  rest,  and  that  I  shall  not  die  as  the  fool 
dieth :  and  this  abundantly  supports,  and  enables  me  to  give 


520 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1772. 


what,  I  think,  is  my  dying  testimony  : — That  He  is  good,  and 
his  mercy  endurelh  for  ever. 

And  most  nearly  beloved,  with  a  love  that  hath  not  its  foun- 
dation in  nature,  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  is — That 
you  may  be  saved.  I  see  in  part  the  vast  extent  of  the  meaning 
of  this  word — saved.  I  need  not  remind  you  of  it,  as  a  thing 
unknown  or  unconsidered,  but  earnestly  wish  it  may  often  recur 
to  your  minds,  particularly  of  thine,  my  friend  !  my  brother  !  my 
companion !  who  stands  as  on  a  slippery  sea  of  glass  ;  sur- 
rounded by  the  flattery  of  the  injudicious,  and  the  poison  artfully 
conveyed,  through  the  flattery  of  those  who  may  assume  the 
guise  of  knowledge,  understanding,  and  sincerity.  He  hath 
signally  preserved  thee  hitherto ;  but  they  that  follow  on  to  the 
end  shall  be  saved.  What  rested  upon  my  mind,  in  the  visit  to 
your  family,  was,  I  believe,  of  the  Lord — "  This  people  have  I 
formed  for  myself ;  they  shall  show  forth  my  praise."  Thou 
hast  known  his  forming  hand,  even  from  thy  youth  upward  ;  the 
natural  and  spiritual  endowments  with  which  thou  hast  been 
singularly  favoured,  and  the  purpose  of  this  favour,  (for  his  own 
praise,)  ought  to  teach  thee  to  look  to  the  rock  from  whence 
thou  wast  hewn,  and  to  the  hole  of  the  pit  from  whence  thou 
wast  digged,  that  thou  mayest  be  eff'ectually  formed  to  His 
praise,  and  the  end  fully  answered.  Thy  station,  thou  knows, 
exposes  thee  to  many  things  that  wound  the  secret,  hidden, 
innocent  life  of  Jesus.  0,  watch  over  it  as  thy  chief  treasure, 
for  peace  and  immortaliiy  are  in  it,  and  salvation,  in  the  most 
glorious  sense  of  the  word,  is  bound  up  in  this  life. 

And  dearly  beloved  sister,  with  whom  I  have  taken  sweet 
counsel,  and  walked  to  the  house  of  our  God  in  company, 
thou  art  inexpressibly  near  to  my  life;  the  Lord  bless  and 
preserve  thee,  in  patience,  in  hope,  in  light,  and  in  the 
blessed  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  in  peace,  and  in  the  joy  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  For  these  favours,  he  will  be  sought  unto,  and 
thou  knows  the  place  where  prayer,  as  well  as  the  giving 
of  thanks,  is  wont  to  be  made.     I  cannot  express  what  I 


^TAT.  56.] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


521 


feel  ;  I  cannot  add  to  your  experience  ;  you  were  in  Christ  be- 
fore me : — but  I  leave  to  you  this  brief  salutation,  as  a  token  I 
love  you  to  the  end  ;  and  in  that  love  I  tenderly  salute  you, 
and  wish,  pray,  and  hope  for  your  eternal  welfare. 

Samuel  Fothergill. 

Jn  a  solemn  and  affecting  interview  with  some  of  his  rela- 
tions, who  were  about  to  set  out  to  attend  the  Yearly  Meeting 
in  London,  he  addressed  them  in  the  following  expressions, 
which  were  read  in  the  Yearly  Meeting,  by  Jonah  Thompson. 

Our  health  is  no  more  at  our  command,  than  length  of 
days  ;  mine  seems  drawing  fast  towards  a  conclusion,  I  think  ; 
but  I  am  content  with  every  allotment  of  Providence,  for  they 
are  all  in  wisdom — unerring  wisdom.  There  is  That,  which, 
as  an  arm  underneath,  bears  up  and  supports  ;  and  though  the 
rolling,  tempestuous  billows  surround,  yet  my  head  is  kept 
above  them,  and  my  feet  are  firmly  established.  Oh  !  seek 
it — press  after  it— lay  fast  hold  of  it !  Though  painful  my 
nights,  and  wearisome  my  days,  yet  I  am  preserved  in  patience 
and  resignation.  Death  has  no  terrors,  nor  will  the  grave  have 
any  victory  !  My  soul  triumphs  over  death,  hell,  and  the 
grave.  Husbands  and  wives,  parents  and  children,  health 
and  riches,  must  all  go  ! — Disappoint?nent  is  another  name  for 
them  1 

I  should  have  been  thankful,  had  I  been  able,  to  have  got  to 

the  ensuing  Yearly  Meeting  in  London,  which  you  are  now 

going  to  attend,  where  I  have  been  so  often  refreshed  with  my 

brethren  ;  but  it  is  otherwise  allotted.    I  shall  remember  the?}t, 

and  some  of  them  will  remember  me.    The  Lord  knows  best 

what  is  best  for  us  ; — I  am  content,  and  resigned  to  his  will. 

I  feel  the  foretaste  of  the  joy  that  is  to  come  ;  and  who  would 

wish  to  change  such  a  state  of  mind  ?    I  should  be  glad  if  an 

easy  channel  could  be  found  to  inform  the  Yearly  Meeting, 

that  as  I  have  lived,  so  I  shall  close,  with  the  most  unshaken 

assurance  that  we  have  not  followed  cunningly  devised  fables, 
67 


522 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1772. 


but  the  pure,  living,  eternal  substance.  Let  the  aged  be  strong  ; 
let  the  middle-aged  be  animated,  and  the  youth  encouraged  ; 
for  the  Lord  is  still  in  Zion  ;  the  Lord  will  bless  Zion  ! 

If  I  be  now  removed  out  of  the  Church  Militant,  where  I 
have  endeavoured  in  some  measure  to  fill  up  my  duty,  I  have 
an  EviDEKCE  that  I  shall  gain  an  admittance  into  his 'glorious 
Church  Triumphant,  far  above  the  heavens.  My  dear  love  is 
lo  all  them  that  love  the  Lord  Jesus. 

DOCTOR  rOTHERGILL  TO  HIS  BROTHER  SAMUEL. 

London,  6th  Mo.,  9th,  1772. 

Oh,  dear  brother,  what  comfort  did  thy  letter,*  an- 
nouncing some  little  improvement  in  thy  state,  give  to  us  ;  we 
rejoice  with  thankfulness  and  trembling,  and  recover  hope, 
which  we  had  almost  lost.  If  our  sympathy  could  lessen  the 
weight  of  thy  distress,  it  would  be  much  alleviated.  Our  minds 
are  often  with  thee,  and  bended  with  desires  for  thy  help  and 
comfort,  be  the  event  of  this  bitter  dispensation  what  it  may. 
Thy  vacant  seat  at  our  table,  at  the  meetings,  hourly  reminds 
us  of  thee,  and  of  our  own  distress;  but  we  leave  this,  and  sub- 
mit the  whole  to  Divine  disposal. 

The  affairs  of  the  meeting  go  on  well.  Joshua  Strangman 
(of  Leek)  is  the  clerk  ;  he  does  his  business  pretty  well,  better, 
I  think,  than  most  of  the  midland  clerks  of  late.  I  know  thou 
longs  to  hear  how  matters  are  conducted  in  the  camp.  The 
American  friends  help  us  much.  John  Woolman  is  solid  and 
weighty  in  his  remarks  ;  he  has  some  singularities,  but  his  real 
worth  outweighs  them.  William  Jepson  is  with  us,  and  is  re- 
markably solid  and  composed. 

Farewell,  our  dearly  beloved  brother !  Accept  the  united, 
strong,  and  affectionate  remembrance  of  this  family.  Again 
farewell  !  from  thy 

I.  &  A.  FoTHERGILL. 

*  The  letter  here  mpntinned  was  thus  endorsed  by  Ann  Fothergill ;  "  The 
"  last  lines  we  received  from  a  dearly-beloved  brother,  who  departed  this 
"  life  in  peace,  the  15th  of  6th  Month,  1772." 


jETxr.  56.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


523 


His  illness,  and  the  painful  symptoms  attending  it,  increased, 
his  strength  diminished,  and  the  faint  hope  entertained  of  some 
amendment  was  lost,  in  the  greater  certainly  that  the  end  was 
now  approaching  very  near. 

He  made  the  following  observations  to  a  friend  : — "  I  have 
laboured  while  I  was  able,  and  it  is  now  my  comfort.  It  is 
not  only  the  washing  of  regeneration,  but  the  renewing — the  re- 
newing— the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  makes  men  and 
women  for  God."  After  speaking  of  the  advantages  of  steady 
conduct  in  the  youth,  and  how  necessary  it  is  for  them  to  seek 
wisdom,  he  added,  "  I  wish  it  for  thee,  dear  friend,  with  the  af- 
fection of  a  father.  Thou  knowest  in  whom  are  all  our  fresh 
springs  ;  He  is  at  our  right  hand,  yet  we  may  not  perceive  Him  ; 
at  our  left,  and  we  may  not  behold  Him." 

The  following  communication  was  made  by  Samuel  Fother- 
gill,  when  near  the  close  of  life  :  it  was  given  as  a  parting  charge 
to  his  beloved  friends  of  Penketh  and  Warrington,  and  of  Hard- 
shaw  Monthly  Meeting,  over  whom  he  had  so  long  walched 
with  pastoral  care  and  true  affection.  After  the  expressions 
were  written  down,  they  were  submitted  to  his  inspection,  and 
approved,  with  an  injunction  that  they  should  be  preserved. 
The  friend  to  whom  they  were  delivered  *  has  added  this  testi- 
mony— "  But  no  words  can  convey  the  power,  energy,  and  life 
that  attended  his  delivery  of  them  ;  the  same  spirit  that  animat- 
ed him  so  often  to  declare  amongst  us  the  whole  counsel  of 
God  was  with  him,  and  raised  him  above  pain  or  weakness, 
whilst  giving  this  solemn,  weighty  caution  ;  and  not  only  at 
this  time,  but  frequently  during  his  confinement,  he  manifested 
the  strongest  love  and  fervency  of  desire  for  all  his  Friends  in 
the  Truth  :"— 

•  This  was  John  Forster,  of  Warr  ington,  a  minister,  who  died  in  1792. 
He  was  convinced  by  the  ministry  of  S.  Fcithergill,  and  became  his  friend 
and  freqnent  companion.  To  his  son,  Samuel  Forster,  of  Stockport,!  am 
indebted  for  some  valuable  information  contained  in  the  present  work. — 
G.C. 


524 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1772. 


"  In  returning  from  the  last  meeting  I  was  at  Penketh,  my 
mind  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  words  of  the  Prophet, 
'  Smite  the  Shepherd,  and  the  sheep  shall  be  scattered.' — 
Though  at  that  time  the  meaning  did  not  appear  so  obvious,  it 
hath  since  gathered  strength  upon  my  mind,  and  a  desire  hath 
rested  with  me  to  leave  a  few  remarks  to  this  Monthly  and 
particular  meeting.  '  Awake,  O  sword,  against  my  Shepherd, 
and  against  the  Man  that  is  my  fellow,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 
Smile  the  Shepherd,  and  the  sheep  shall  be  scattered.'  Though 
I  am  not  the  Shepherd  to  whom  the  sword  is  threatened,  yet  I 
have  been  a  sub-shepherd,  delegated  to  you  by  the  great  Shep- 
herd, and  have  laboured  amongst  you  according  to  the  ability 
received  ;  in  poverty,  in  weakness,  in  nakedness,  in  slripped- 
ness  ;  as  having  nothing,  yet  possessing  all  things.  My  mind 
has  ever  been  covered  with  love  towards  you,  both  in  my  pub- 
lic ministry  and  in  private  ;  where  I  have  been  engaged  to  deal 
closely  and  plainly  with  ■you,  I  never  used  any  unnecessary 
severity  ;  but  I  have  called,  and  ye  refused,  and  no  man  regard- 
ed ;  therefore,  you  shall  call,  and  I  will  not  hear ;  for  1  will 
smite  the  Shepherd,  and  the  sheep  shall  be  scattered  :  they  have 
perverted  the  mercies  bestowed;  therefore,  I  will  take  from 
them  the  delight  of  their  eyes  and  the  desire  of  their  hearts, 
and  remove  my  delegated  shepherd  by  the  arrow  of  death,  and 
the  sheep  shall  be  smitten. 

"  But,  in  the  extending  of  my  prospect,  an  encouraging  hope 
rests  on  my  mind  towards  the  little  ones,  those  who  are  little  in 
iheir  own  eyes.  I  will  turn  mine  hand  upon  the  little  ones, 
and  I  will  bring  them  as  through  the  fire,  and  '  will  refine  them 
as  silver  is  refined.'  I  will  gather  them  as  lambs  by  mine  own 
power  ;  they  shall  call  on  my  name,  and  I  will  hear  them  ;  and 
they  shall  know  a  place  of  feeding,  when  the  sheep  may  be 
scattered  and  the  shepherd  removed.  My  spirit  feels  an  evi- 
dence I  have  laboured  amongst  you  with  acceptance ;  that  since 
I  have  been  mercifully  called  to  a  part  in  the  ministry,  I  have 


^TAT.  56.] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


525 


not  neglected  to  warn  you  ;  and  that  when  the  chief  Shepherd 
sliall  appear,  I  also  shall  appear  with  him  in  glory." 

His  heavenly  Father  was  now  pleased  to  say,  "  It  is  enough," 
and  to  release  his  spirit  from  farther  trials.  He  departed  this 
life  at  his  house  in  Wai'rington,  on  the  fifteenth  of  the  sixth 
month,  1772,  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  and  the  thirty- 
sixth  of  his  ministry. 

His  remains  were  interred  in  Friend's  burying  ground,  at 
Penketh,  on  the  nineteenth  of  the  same  month.  The  love  which 
so  many  bore  to  him,  and  the  respect  in  which  he  was  held, 
were  testified  by  a  very  large  attendance  of  friends  and  neigh- 
bours, of  all  ranks  and  classes,  on  the  occasion.  The  solemni- 
ty of  it  was  great,  and  it  was  favoured  by  the  overshadowing  of 
Divine  love,  and  by  a  large  degree  of  that  Power  which  had 
supported  him  in  life,  and  had  so  eminently  attended  him  in  his 
labours  as  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ. 

Thus  died  Samuel  Fothergill,  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the 
Gospel,  and  having  a  happy  assurance  and  foretaste  of  that  ev- 
erlasting rest  into  which  he  was  about  to  enter. 

He  was  in  stature  tall ;  in  person  comely  and  graceful  ;  in 
deportment  dignified,  yet  courteous  ;  grave,  but  not  austere  ; 
affable  to  all,  intimate  but  with  few ;  in  manners  kind,  and 
with  a  politeness,  the  result,  as  it  ever  will  be,  of  the  practical 
application  of  the  precepts,  "  Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men 
should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them;"  "in  honour  preferring 
one  another."  He  possessed  good  natural  abilities,  and  had  im- 
proved them  by  cultivation  ;  he  was  well  read  both  in  books 
and  men,  but  his  studies  did  not  terminate  in  barren  and  fruit- 
less speculations  ;  under  the  Divine  blessing,  they  led  him  du- 
ly to  appreciate  the  great  truths  of  religion,  which  shone  forth 
in  his  life  and  character  ;  these  qualities,  combined  with  a  reten- 
tive memory,  and  an  observing  mind,  rendered  his  conversation 
cheerful  and  instructive,  attractive  to  all,  and  to  the  youth  in 
particular ;  with  them  he  frequently  indulged  in  an  innocent 


626 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS,  &C. 


[1772. 


pleasantry,  mingled  with  instruction.  For  this  class  he  alwa5'3 
felt  much  interest,  and  whether  in  the  freedom  of  social  conver- 
sation, or  in  discoursing  on  the  important  concerns  appertaining 
to  life  and  salvation,  or  in  the  exercise  of  his  gift  as  a  minister, 
he  was  ever  particularly  led  into  sympathy  and  feeling  for  the 
young,  and  concerned  to  promote  their  welfare.  Of  his  style, 
which  was  strong  and  nervous,  rarely  diffuse,  the  most  striking 
character  was,  the  peculiar  felicity  and  skilful  adaptation  of  his 
metaphors,  and  his  happy  illustrations  of  spiritual  things  by 
comparison  with  natural  imagery;  some  of  these  are  eminently 
beautiful.  In  his  public  discourses,  his  deportment  was  solemn 
and  devout,  his  delivery  graceful,  his  language  pure  and  correct, 
never  grovelling  nor  low,  often  elegant  and  pathetic ;  his  pe- 
riods easy  and  flowing,  frequently  sublime. 

As  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel,  he  was  careful  to  follow  the  in- 
junction— "Preach  the  word,  be  instant  in  season  and  out  of 
season,  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all  long-suffering  and 
doctrine."  In  the  testimony  given  by  his  friends  concerning 
him,  it  is  said,  "  His  ministry  at  limes  went  forth  as  a  flame, 
often  piercing  into  the  inmost  recesses  of  darkness  and  obdu- 
racy ;  yet  descended  like  dew  upon  the  tender  plants  of  our 
Heavenly  Father's  planting ;  with  these  he  travailed  in  deep 

sympathy  of  spirit  His  gospel  labours  being  free  from  all 

affectation,  he,  in  this  respect,  commanded  reverence  ;  being  in 
doctrine  clear,  sound,  elegant,  and  pathetic,  his  gift  being  of  that 

extent  which  made  his  service  in  the  church  of  Christ  general  

He  proposed  to  the  people  no  '  cunningly-devised  fables,'  but, 
full  of  charily,  he  skilfully  divided  the  word  aright,  speaking 
whereof  he  knew,  and  what  his  own  hands  had  handled,  of  the 
good  word  of  life." 


(I 


I 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Susanna  Fothergill,  at  the  time  of  her  husband's  decease, 
was,  as  she  had  for  sometime  previously  been,  in  a  feeble  slate 
of  health  ;  her  infirmities  increased,  and  she  did  not  long  sur- 
vive him.  She  received  the  tender  care  of  kind  relations,  and 
much  sympathy  from  her  friends,  on  the  loss  of  such  a  valua- 
ble companion. 

ISRAEL  PEMBERTON  TO  SUSANNA  FOTHERGILL. 

Philadelphia,  10th  Mo.,  10th,  1772. 

My  mind  being  engaged  in  near  sympathy  with  thee, 
desiring  thou  raayest  be  favoured  with  the  abundant  supplies 
of  Divine  consolation  and  strength  in  this  time  of  deep  probation 
and  affliction,  a  short  salutation  is,  I  think,  due  to  thee,  and 
will,  I  hope,  be  acceptable,  as  it  comes  from  the  fervent  love 
and  respect  of  a  friend  who  loved  and  honoured  thy  worthy 
husband,  and  to  whom  his  memory  will  ever  be  dear.  I  hope 
thou  wilt  be  preserved  in  patient  submission  to  the  Divine  will, 
as  thou  doubtless  hast  full  assurance  of  his  glorious  exit,  and 
that  he  is  removed  from  all  pain  and  uncertainty,  to  a  state  of 
permanent  happiness  ;  yet,  the  near  union  which  had  long  sub- 
sisted, and  was  cemented  by  the  strongest  bonds,  being  now  dis- 
solved, I  know  from  experience,  must  have  caused  a  conflict  in 
nature,  greater  than  can  be  expressed  :  at  such  a  time,  the 
remembrance  that  we  have  an  High  Priest  who  is  touched 
with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities,  through  whom  we  may 
"  find  grace  to  help  in  time  of  need,"  was  to  me  a  support 
and  relief  which  I  have  great  cause  with  reverent  ihankful- 


I 


528  MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS  [1773. 

*  ness  to  acknowledge  ;  and  I  believe  the  renewed  sense  thereof 
will  minister  comfort  and  stability  to  thy  mind. 

My  dear  wife  is  yet  spared  to  me,  through  much  weakness 
and  affliction,  both  of  body  and  mind  :  the  loss  of  our  beloved 
son  hath  affected  us  very  deeply,  though  I  hope  we  are  enabled 
to  resign  ourselves  to  this  allotment  of  Infinite  Wisdom,  and  to 
desire  it  may  be  sanctified  to  us.  Many  Friends  were  lately 
at  our  Yearly  Meeting,  by  whom  thou  wast  remembered  with 
much  affection,  and  united  desires  for  thy  preservation  to  the 
end  in  faith  and  patience. 

Israel  Pemberton. 

Her  health  and  strength  continued  to  decline,  and  after  a  few 
weeks  of  lingering  illness,  she  departed  this  life  at  Warrington, 
on  the  8lh  of  the  5th  Month,  1773,  in  the  seventy-fourth  year 
of  her  age,  a  minister  about  fifty  years. 

The  testimony  concerning  her,  from  Hardshaw  Monthly 
»  Meeting,  states,  that — "  Her  labours  in  the  gospel  tended  to 
the  edification  of  Friends,  and  to  her  own  peace," — "  she  was 
for  some  time  before  her  departure  much  confined  at  home  : 
nevertheless,  a  large  degree  of  that  innocence  and  peace  appear- 
ed to  attend  her  to  the  last,  which  had  been  her  companion  in 
the  more  active  part  of  her  life  ;  laying  down  her  head  (we 
doubt  not)  under  the  effects  of  that  animating  welcome  sentence 
of — "  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou  in- 
to the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 


The  few  remaining  years  of  the  life  of  Doctor  Fothergill 
were  passed,  like  many  which  had  preceded  them,  in  the 
diligent  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  profession,  in  which 
he  had  long  occupied  a  station  of  the  highest  eminence,  in 
the  most  enlarged  benevolence,  and  in  a  constant  endeavour 


•] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


529 


to  promote,  in  many  various  ways,  the  good  of  mankind  at  large  ; 
yet  amidst  all  these  engagements,  with  a  still  increasing  desire 
and  care  to  keep  the  world,  and  all  belonging  to  it,  under  his 
feet,  and  to  press  forward  in  the  path  which  leads  to  everlasting 
life. 

He  continued  his  annual  visits  to  Lea  Hall,  but  the  satisfac- 
tion derived  from  these  retreats  from  the  busy  scenes  of  life,  and 
the  fatigues  of  his  profession,  was  greatly  diminished  by  the  de- 
cease of  his  beloved  brother,  and  these  visits  rendered  him  more 
sensible  of  his  loss,  and  of  the  chasm  which  that  event  had  made. 
In  1772  he  thus  writes  from  Lea  Hall : 

"  I  have  been  obliged  to  write  many  letters,  which  I  am  at 
present  very  unfit  for,  or  for  anything  else  ;  but  I  will  not  spend 
all  in  unavaihng  complaints.  I  meet  with  many  things  to  put 
me  in  mind  how  much  I  have  lost,  and  I  feel  such  a  void  in  my 
enjoyments  of  this  life,  as  reduces  my  wishes  to  a  great  medio- 
crity indeed."  "I  have  enough  to  do  to  command  my- 
self, when  I  recollect  my  brother,  whose  countenance,  counsel, 
and  sympathy  relieved  every  anxiety,  gave  taste  to  every  enjoy- 
ment ;  but  I  will  try  to  banish  everything  but  a  wish  to  follow 
him  through  the  remains  of  this  life,  with  submission  to  every 
difficulty,  and  gratitude  for  many  blessings."  {Letter  to  Dr. 
Lettsom.) 

In  addition  to  his  retreat  at  Lea  Hall,  Dr.  Fothergill  pos- 
sessed, in  his  estate  and  gardens  at  Upton,  an  opportunity  of 
indulging  his  taste  and  love  for  the  pursuits  of  Botany  and  Hor- 
ticulture, though  prevented  by  his  numerous  avocations  from 
enjoying  them  so  much  as  he  wished.  The  estate  at  Upton, 
purchased  from  Admiral  Elliott,  in  1762,  he  extended  and  im- 
proved, planting  it  with  the  rarest  trees  and  shrubs,  and  the 
choicest  plants  :  a  glass  door  from  the  house  communicated 
with  an  extensive  suite  of  green-houses  and  hot-houses,  in  which 
were  upwards  of  3,400  distinct  species  of  exotics  ;  whilst,  in 
the  open  ground,  at  least  3000  different  species  of  plants  and 

shrubs  gave,  during  summer  and  autumn,  a  constant  verdure  to 
68 


530 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1773. 


the  place.  To  retire  occasionally,  even  for  a  short  time,  to  di- 
rect and  contereiplate  the  extensive  collection  lie  had  formed, 
was  a  source  of  great  pleasure  to  the  owner.  Sir  Joseph  Banks 
in  writing  on  this  subject,  says,  "  At  an  expense  seldom  under- 
taken by  an  individual,  and  with  an  ardour  that  was  visible 
in  the  whole  of  his  conduct,  Dr.  Fothergill  procured,  from  all 
parts  of  the  world,  a  great  number  of  the  rarest  plants,  and  pro- 
tected them  in  the  amplest  buildings  which  this  or  any  other 
country  has  seen.  He  liberally  proposed  rewards  to  those  who 
brought  hither  plants  which  might  be  ornamental,  and  probably 
useful,  to  this  country  or  her  colonies,  and  has  liberally  paid 
these  rewards  to  all  that  served  him.  If  the  troubles  of  war  had 
not  prevented,  we  should  have  had  the  Cortex  Winterauus,  &c., 
&c.,  introduced  by  his  means  into  this  country,  and  the  Bread- 
fruit, Mangosteen,  &c.  into  the  West  India  Islands.  For  each 
of  these,  and  many  others,  he  had  fixed  a  proper  premium.  In 
conjunction  with  the  Earl  of  Tankerville,  Dr.  Pilcairn,  and  my- 
self, he  sent  over  a  person  to  Africa,  for  the  purpose  of  col- 
lecting plants  and  specimens. 

"  In  my  opinion,  no  other  garden  in  Europe,  either  royal,  or 
belonging  to  a  subject,  had  nearly  so  many  scarce  and  valuable 
plants.  It  was  known  all  over  Europe,  and  foreigners  of  all 
ranks,  when  they  came  hither,  asked  permission  to  visit  it." 

In  order  to  keep  up  and  to  increase  this  collection,  several 
persons  were  constantly  occupied,  some  in  making  new  acquisi- 
tions :  amongst  others,  thus  engaged  William  Bartram  travelled, 
in  1773,  at  Dr.  Fothergill's  expense,  "  to  search  the  Floridas, 
and  the  western  parts  of  Carolina  and  Georgia."*  Nor  was  it 
merely  the  curious  or  the  ornamental  that  were  thus  collected, 
but  whatever  was  likely  to  be  useful,  either  in  medicine  or  for 
more  general  purposes,  was  not  overlooked.  Ardent  as  was  Dr. 
Fothergill's  love  of  botany,  his  pursuits  were  not  confined  to  this 
branch  of  science  ;  his  collections  in  other  departments  of  natural 

*  See  his  travels,  1  vol.,  London,  1792. 


■] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


531 


history,  as  insects,  shells,  fossils,  minerals,  corals,  &c.,  were 
valuable  and  extensive  ;  he  also  possessed  a  large  collection  of 
drawings.  But  while  engaged  in  these  elegant  pursuits,  and 
when  thus  contemplating  the  productions  of  nature,  which  his 
good  taste  had  collected  together,  he  never  lost  sight  of  their 
great  Author.  "  In  these,  as  in  every  other  pursuit,  he  had 
always  in  view  the  enlargement  and  elevation  of  his  own  heart; 
having  formed  early  habitudes  of  religious  reference,  from  the 
display  of  Divine  power  and  wisdom  in  the  beauty,  the  order, 
and  the  harmony  of  external  things,  to  the  glory  of  their  Al- 
mighty Former.  From  the  influence  of  these  habitudes,  his 
mind  was  always  preserved  in  a  disengaged  and  independent 
state,  enjoying,  but  yet  adoring."* 

His  encouragement  of  genius  was  not  limited  by  the  bounds 
of  any  particular  science  or  pursuit ;  it  was  his  delight  to 
seek  out,  and  to  promote  the  advancement  of  merit,  and  mu- 
nificently to  reward  it.  Of  this  the  ingenious  Anthony  Purver 
was  an  instance  :  he  had,  by  indefatigable  self-exertion,  ac- 
quired an  extensive  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew,  and  other 
Oriental  tongues,  and,  solely  by  the  patronage  of  Dr.  Fother- 
gill,  completed  a  literal  translation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  ; 
and  though  certain  idioms  used  by  the  translator  have  caused 
it  to  be  less  read  and  esteemed,  it  is  considered  a  valuable 
work.  Besides  causing  it  to  be  printed  at  his  own  expense, 
Dr.  Fothergill,  it  is  said,  presented  A.  Purver  with  one  thou- 
sand pounds  for  his  performance.t 

Many  are  the  instances  related,  and  many  more  there 
were,  never  recorded,  of  the  large  pecuniary  bounty,  which, 
in  addition  to  the  assistance  gratuitously  afforded  by  his  me- 
dical skill,  he  distributed  to  cases  of  distress  with  which  his 
profession  made  him  acquainted. 

*  "  An  affectionafe  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Dr.  John  Fother- 
gill, by  W.  Hird,  M.  D."    London,  1781,  page  13. 

t  The  work  was  published  in  two  vols.,  folio,  1764.  Anthony  Purver 
died  at  Alton,  in  Hampshire,  in  1777,  aged  70. 


532 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1776. 


Whilst  he  was  thus  actively  engaged  in  his  profession,  in  the 
promotion  of  science,  and  in  benevolent  pursuits,  his  devotion  to 
the  interests  and  proceedings  of  the  religious  Society  of  which 
he  was  so  valuable  a  member,  increased  with  his  increasing 
years  ;  he  had  its  prosperity  much  at  heart.  In  the  year  1776, 
he  was  nominated  one  of  a  committee,  appointed  by  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  to  make  a  general  visit  to  the  meetings  throughout 
the  nation.  On  this  occasion  he  wrote  the  following  letter — 
"  To  the  Friends  nominated  at  the  late  Yearly  Meeting,  to  visit 
the  Quarterly  and  Monthly  Meetings,  &c.,  and  to  the  members 
of  our  Society  in  general :" — 

Dear  Friends, 

Having  been  nominated  on  this  service,  I  accepted  of 
it  with  reluctance,  from  an  apprehension  of  my  unfitness,  as 
well  as  from  the  confining  nature  of  my  employment.  But 
being  desirous  to  acquit  myself  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  I 
could  not  avoid  considering,  with  much  and  deliberate  attention, 
the  proposal  made  to  the  meeting,  both  in  respect  to  the  man- 
ner of  if,  the  nature  of  the  service,  and  its  object ;  all  of  which 
claim  my  hearty  concurrence.  That  it  arose  from  the  simple 
movings  of  Truth,  I  am  fully  persuaded ;  the  prevalence  of  a 
holy  influence  over  the  minds  of  many,  when  it  was  delivered, 
was  generally  felt  and  acknowledged.  The  nature  of  the  ser- 
vice is,  to  render  us  helpful  one  to  another,  in  promoting  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  every  individual  in  the  truth,  and  by 
this  means  to  advance  the  great  end  of  irue  religion,  the  glory  of 
Him  who  created  us,  and  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  all. 
The  complaining  language  of  many  counties  having  deeply  af- 
fected the  minds  of  Friends,  fervent  desires  were  raised  that  the 
life  of  religion  might  be  renewed  in  the  churches,  to  their  help 
in  the  maintenance  of  pure,  unmixed  piety.  And  it  pleased  Di- 
vine Providence  to  open  the  way  to  a  fresh  labour  of  love  amongst 
his  people,  and  to  make  many  willing  to  engage  in  this  service  ; 
and,  oh!  may  it  be  blessed,  so  as  to  make  it  a  memorable  season  of 


•] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


533 


Divine  refreshment,  from  the  great  Master  of  our  assemblies. 
A  desire  to  contribute  my  mite  to  this  great  and  useful  labour, 
prompts  me  to  throw  before  my  brethren  the  following  reflec- 
tions, hoping  they  will  be  received  as  the  fruits  of  a  mind  cor- 
dially disposed,  in  the  first  place,  to  build  up  its  own  breaches, 
and,  in  the  next,  to  join  in  repairing  those  which  the  enemy  has 
made  in  the  walls  of  our  Zion. 

I  would  wish  to  apply  myself  to  my  brethren  engaged  in  this 
service,  and  to  recapitulate  some  parts  of  the  wise,  important, 
heavenly  counsel  communicated  to  you,  during  your  delibera- 
tions on  this  subject,  by  many  concerned  brethren  ;  that  as  you 
have  given  up  your  names,  and  that  with  a  willingness  that 
bespeaks  your  zeal  for  the  cause  of  truth,  and  its  prosperity 
among  the  people,  you  will  let  the  weight  of  the  work  take 
possession  of  your  minds ;  let  it  be  your  fervent  prayer,  that 
you  may  be  made  deeply  sensible  of  its  importance,  as  well  as 
of  the  time  and  manner  in  which  you  are  to  proceed.  These 
considerations  were  earnestly  pressed  upon  you,  and,  as  you 
keep  them  in  humility  and  fear  before  you,  way  will  be  opened 
for  your  accomplishing  the  work,  to  the  churches'  benefit,  and 
your  own  growth  and  experience  in  righteousness  and  truth. 
Let  it  be  your  care,  in  this  service,  to  look  to  that  Arm  of 
power  which  gathered  us  to  be  a  people,  and  has  hitherto,  in  a 
good  measure,  preserved  us  one  in  faith  and  practice.  Wait 
for  a  degree  of  that  wisdom  which  led  our  ancestors  to  estab- 
lish a  most  wholesome  discipline  amongst  us,  for  our  preserva- 
tion :  and  be  it  your  chief  care,  in  much  brotherly  love,  to 
strengthen  the  weak,  and  bring  back  the  scattered,  and,  by  an 
awful  labour,  to  awake  them  to  a  sense  of  the  holy  principle 
of  light,  life,  and  grace,  to  an  obedience  to  it,  to  a  knowledge  of 
its  blessed  effects  ;  this  is  the  one  thing  needful :  and,  oh  !  that 
they  may  wrestle  and  prevail,  as  Jacob  did,  and  obtain  the 
blessing,  for  yourselves,  and  for  the  whole  heritage  of  God. 

And  you,  my  dear  friends,  who  are  the  objects  of  the  churches' 
care,  and  amongst  whom  I  rank  myself,  surrounded  with  many 


534 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1776. 


weaknesses,  much  imperfection,  far  short  of  the  excellency  that 
adorned  our  predecessors,  yet  struggling  in  hope  after  a  belter 
life,  freedom  fi'om  entanglements,  more  love  to  God,  and  his 
truth,  yield  to  the  word  of  exhortation  ;  receive  this  visit  as  a 
fresh  renewal  of  the  love  of  God,  and  of  help  administered  in 
the  needful  lime.  Let  us  embrace  the  hand  held  out  to  help 
us,  kiss  the  rod  we  may  have  deserved,  and  give  thanks  to  God 
for  his  mercy  and  loving-kindness,  in  thus  exciting  a  fresh  con- 
cern in  the  church  for  the  restoration  of  individuals.  Let  us 
prepare  ourselves,  in  sincerity,  to  receive  the  word  of  exhorta- 
tion in  meekness  and  humility ;  so  shall  we  be  made  partakers 
of  the  benefits  intended,  feel  our  strength  renewed  to  run  with 
alacrity  the  race  that  is  set  before  us,  be  made  helpful  to  others 
in  their  progress,  and,  having  finished  our  course  with  joy, 
leave  a  bright  example  to  those  who  follow  after  us. 

Under  a  sense  of  the  great  need  we  have  to  be  afresh  roused 
up  to  diligence,  I  found  a  willingness  to  throw  these  few  hints 
before  my  brethren,  as  a  testimony  of  my  full  unity  with  the 
proposition,  and  my  desire  that  it  may  be  rendered  effectual  to 
the  help  of  many,  and  the  general  edification  of  the  churches. 

L  FoTIIERGILL. 

He  united  with  a  part  of  the  Committee  in  visiting  the  meet- 
ings of  Friends  in  Lancashire  and  Yorkshire,  his  sister  accom- 
panying him  in  the  latter.  In  a  subsequent  letter,  he  thus 
speaks  of  the  visit,  in  terms  more  suited  to  the  well-known 
diffidence  of  his  character,  than  to  the  part  which  he  took  in  the 
service : — 

"  It  was  with  much  reluctance  that  I  consented  to  be 
named  on  such  a  service  as  that  in  which  we  took  a  small 
part,  I  hope  to  our  own  help  at  least ;  and  if  we  either 
tended  to  hold  up  the  hands  of  those  who  were  qualified  for 
the  service,  or  gave  proofs  that  we  had  the  fullest  unity  with 
it,  we  are  glad.  We  find,  by  several  accounts,  that  the  visit 
has  been  well  received  every  where,  and  many  testimonies 


•] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


535 


given  of  its  utility.  T  cannot  forbear  thinking,  that  limes  of  dis- 
tress are  gradually,  imperceptibly  advancing  ;  the  season  may 
not  be  in  my  time,  but  I  wish  to  be  prepared  for  it  if  it  should. 

"  To  my  nephew  and  his  family  say,  that  if  they  look  back 
frequently  to  the  worthy  parts  of  their  ancestry,  with  a  wish  to 
follow  their  footsteps,  they  will  be  the  better  for  it.  To  all 
the  progeny  of  our  worthy  father  is  the  gracious  regard  of 
heaven  extended,  and  we  ought  to  be  abundantly  thankful  that 
so  many  are  preserved  from  the  spots  and  stains  of  this  life." 
—{Dr.  F.  to  Sarah  Hird,  lOlh  Mo.  17th,  1776.) 

Amongst  the  many  distinguished  men  who,  from  similarity  of 
pursuits,  Dr.  Fothergill  ranked  amongst  his  intimate  friends,  was 
John  Howard.    They  were  both  engaged,  though  in  different 
spheres,  in  lessening  the  miseries  of  human  life  ;   and,  in  at- 
tempting to  prevent  those  injuries  and  diseases  which  contagion 
produces,  they  united  their  labours.    They  were  desired  to  at- 
tend before  the  House  of  Commons,  where  they  gave  such  in- 
formation, that  an  Act  was  passed  on  the  subject  of  the  hcallh  of 
prisoners,  and  for  preventing  the  gaol  distemper,  also  for  build- 
ing penitentiary  prisons.  These  two  eminent  men,  with  George 
Whatley,  were  appointed  by  the  King  commissioners,  for  fixing 
upon  a  site,  and  directing  suitable  buildings  to  be  erected,  for 
carrying  this  new  system  into  execution.    Again,  when  the  Le- 
gislature was  informed  of  the  great  mortality  amongst  the 
French  and  Spanish  prisoners  then  confined  at  Winchesler,  Dr. 
Fothergill  was  consulted,  and  he  recommended  Dr.  J.  Carmi- 
chael  Smith  to  superintend  the  prisons,  to  avert,  if  possible,  the 
spreading  contagion  :  the  success  which  ensued  confirmed  the 
discernment  evinced  in  the  selection.    When  the  Empress  of 
Russia  wished  to  introduce  into  her  dominions  the  practice  of 
inoculation  for  the  small-pox,  and  desired  her  ambassador  in  En- 
gland to  send  over  a  competent  person,  he  applied  to  Dr.  Foth- 
ergill, who  recommended  Dr.  (afterwards  Baron)  Dimsdale,and 
he  was,  in  consequence,  appointed  to  that  distinguished  employ- 
ment. 


536 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1777. 


In  common  with  many  oilier  good  men,  Dr.  Fothergill  deep- 
ly lamented  the  unhappy  contest  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
American  colonies  :  lie  had  exerted  himself  by  writing,  and  in 
various  ways,  to  avert  it.  He  and  his  friend,  David  Barclay, 
were  authorised  to  attempt  a  compromise  with  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin, before  his  departure  from  England  ;  accordingly,  several 
conferences  were  held  with  him,  and  some  correspondence  took 
place,  in  endeavours  to  arrange  the  differences  and  establish  a 
permanent  reconcihation  between  the  two  countries,  but  the  at- 
tempt proved  unsuccessful. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  enumerate  the  various  ways  by  which 
Dr.  Fothergill  endeavoured  to  promote  the  advantage  and  the 
general  good  of  his  fellow-creatures  ;  independently  of  the  op- 
portunities afforded  by  his  extensive  practice  as  a  physician,  and 
his  high  standing  in  general  society,  he  was  often  engaged  in 
proposing  plans  conducive  to  this.  His  enlarged  mind,  capable 
of  embracing  every  object  of  usefulness  and  benevolence,  was 
enabled  to  accomplish  much  by  the  order  and  punctuality 
which  pervaded  and  regulated  all  his  conduct. 

A  benevolence  so  comprehensive  and  universal  could  not 
overlook  the  important  subject  of  the  right  education  of  youth. 
It  did  not  escape  his  observing  mind,  and  he  was  occupied 
with  it  for  several  years.  He  saw  with  concern  how  much 
the  young  were  exposed  to  temptation,  and  he  wished,  by  pro- 
moting a  guarded  education,  to  strike  at  the  root  of  the  evil. 
He  would  willingly  have  included  the  whole  community  ; 
but,  conscious  that  the  attempt  on  so  large  a  scale  would 
be  fruitless,  he  confined  his  hopes  and  his  attempts  within  the 
bounds  of  his  own  religious  society,  in  which  his  influence 
was  great,  and  where  he  knew  he  should  receive  assistance 
and  support. 

To  this  desire  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Fothergill,  the  Society 
owes  its  valuable  institution  at  Ackworth.  The  circumstances 
which  led  to  the  establishment  of  that  school  are  thus  related 
by  Dr.  Hird  :— 


— .] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


537 


"On  his  return  from  Cheshire,  in  the  year  1777,  he  did  me 
the  favour  of  beins;  my  guest  for  a  few  days.  In  one  of  the 
many  interviews  he  then  had  with  his  friends,  the  conversation 
turned  on  an  institution  at  Gildersome,  a  small  establishment 
for  the  education  of  the  poorer  children  amongst  the  Society. 
Dr.  Fothergill  inquired  into  its  state  and  management,  and  how 
far  it  might  serve  as  a  model  for  a  larger  undertaking.  The 
present  state  of  the  Foundling  Hospital  at  Ackworth,  was  also 
mentioned ;  erected  at  a  vast  expense,  it  was  then  in  danger  of 
dilapidation,  and  ready  for  public  sale.  This  struck  him  forci- 
bly— '  Why  may  not  this,'  said  he,  '  serve  the  very  purpose  I  am 
in  pursuit  of?'  The  building,  with  an  estate  of  eighty  acres  of 
land,  was  purchased,  improved,  and  furnished  by  subscription. 
The  Doctor  set  a  generous  example,  by  his  own  contribution, 
and  an  endowment  by  his  will  in  perpetuity. 

In  thus  coming  forward  to  secure  by  immediate  purchase, 
what  appeared  so  desirable  for  the  object  in  view,  Dr.  Fothergill 
was  assisted  by  his  friend,  David  Barclay,  and  some  others. 
With  a  generous  confidence,  they  trusted  to  the  Society  for  con- 
firming and  perpetuating  that  which  they  had  thus  begun.  The 
event  fully  proved  that,  in  so  reposing  their  trust,  they  did  not 
err.  This  undertaking,  of  which  Dr.  Fothergill  was  so  far  the 
author  as  to  have  first  proposed  it  to  the  consideration  of  the 
Society,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  fully  established,  with 
every  prospect  of  its  fully  answering  the  design  of  its  benevo- 
lent founders.  It  remained  with  him  a  near  object  of  interest 
for  the  rest  of  his  life.  A  few  months  before  his  decease,  he 
broke  the  silence  in  a  committee,  by  saying  he  "  rejoiced  with 
trembling"  at  the  success  and  the  blessing  which  he  considered 
had  thus  far  attended  their  labours.  His  opinions  on  the  inten- 
tion of  the  school,  the  suitable  objects  for  it,  &c.,  are  fully  de- 
veloped in  his  well-known  "  Letter  to  a  Friend  in  the  country, 
relative  to  the  intended  School  at  Ackworth,  in  Yorkshire," 
which  has  several  times  been  printed.  He  had  also  much  cor- 
respondence on  this  institution,  in  which  his  sagacity  has  included 
69 


538 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1778. 


almost  every  subject  connected  with  the  estabhshment  of  the 
school,  even  to  very  minute  details. 

For  a  series  of  years,  indeed  for  the  greater  part  of  his  life, 
Dr.  Folhergill  had  enjoyed  good  health,  and  lime  seemed  but 
slowly  to  diminish  the  vigour  of  his  body,  or  weaken  the  exer- 
tions of  his  mind ;  but  it  was  evident,  after  the  decease  of  his 
brother,  that  he  was  less  capable  of  enduring  fatigue,  and  that 
his  annual  visits  to  Lea  Hall,  and  the  recess  thus  obtained,  did 
not  yield  him  that  renovation  of  strength  which,  in  former  years, 
had  been  the  result  of  this  retirement.  In  the  1 1th  Month,  1778, 
he  was  attacked  with  a  severe  internal  complaint,  accompanied 
with  intense  pain,  and  which  much  reduced  his  strength.  Dr. 
Lettsom  says — "  In  the  height  of  this  distress,  I  visited  him, 
and  found  him  calm  and  collected.  He  described,  with  won- 
derful serenity  of  mind,  his  acute  misery,  expressing  a  pious 
and  Christian  resignation,  and  adding,  'that  if  he  had  left  any 
'  thing  undone  which  he  wished  to  have  done,  it  was  perfecting 
'the  plan  of  Ackworth  School ;  and,  likewise,  the  complete  ar- 
'  rangement  of  the  rules  of  our  religious  Society.'  "  * 

In  a  few  weeks  the  complaint  abated,  and  he  was  again  able 
to  see  his  friends  ;  and  forced  by  the  importunities  of  those  who 
sought  relief  from  his  medical  skill,  he  again  resumed  the  duties 
of  his  arduous  and  active  life. 


DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  CATHARINE  PHILLIPS. 

London,  12th  Mo.,  5th.  1778. 

Thy  very  affectionate  letter  to  my  sister  revived 
the  remembrance  of  that  friendship  which  has  so  long  subsist- 
ed between  my  brother,  thyself,  and  us,  so  strongly,  that 
I  rather  chose  to  answer  it  myself.     Through  unmerited 

*This  work,  although  not  completed  until  1782,  had  occupied  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  of  which  Dr.  F.  was  an  active  mem- 
ber for  a  considerable  time  previously. 


] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


539 


favour,  I  am  in  a  probable  way  of  recovery,  though  yet  far  from 
well.  My  disorder  was  at  first  a  common  cold :  I  struggled 
with  it,  under  a  necessity  of  great  application,  till  at  length  it 
was  accidentally  increased,  and  brought  on  other  complaints. 
I  form  hoj)es  that  by  degrees  it  will  give  way.  My  appetite 
and  strength  are  gradually  returning,  and  though  yet  unfit  for 
going  abroad,  I  am  easy  and  content. 

I  cannot  express,  in  a  short  compass,  the  feelings  of  my  mind 
on  this  trying  occasion-  I  have  only  to  lookback  to  that  point 
when,  if  I  had  not  been  relieved,  I  must  in  twenty-four  hours 
have  been  numbered  with  the  dead,  and  saw  it  most  clearly, 
with  humbling  gratitude  for  a  degree  of  calm  resignation  to  the 
Divine  will,  secretly  trusting  in  his  power,  goodness,  and  mercy. 
And  may  I  never  forget  the  season.  Anxiety  and  fear  united, 
have  presented  themselves  ;  but  I  endeavoured  to  be  quiet,  and 
to  trust  in  Him  who  alone  is  worthy  to  be  confided  in  for  ever. 
What  may  now  await  me  I  know  not.  I  know  too  well  my 
own  inability  to  help  myself,  and  to  stay  me,  where  I  ought  to 
remain,  without  assistance  above  my  own  resolutions.  I  shall 
wish,  however,  to  detach  myself  from  the  world,  as  occasion 
may  offer,  and  to  which  this  dispensation  may,  I  hope,  contri- 
bute. I  have  not  hurried  into  these  numerous  engagements, 
so  far  as  I  know  of  myself,  from  any  other  motive  than  those 
which  urged  me  on  to  do  the  business  of  the  present  hour  with 
diligence,  whether  in  the  duty  of  my  profession,  the  common 
calls  of  life,  or  the  affairs  of  the  Society. 

This  plunge  will  oblige  me  to  make  some  choice,  and  its  being 
so  generally  known  will  serve  me  as  a  just  plea  for  refusing 
many  embarrassing  distant  engagements.  Such  are  my  views 
and  my  desires  at  present,  and  I  humbly  trust  that  goodness  and 
mercy,  which  has  given  me  my  life  as  a  prey,  will  not  leave  me. 
Indeed,  the  general  and  cordial  regard  manifested  to  me,  by 
Friends  and  others,  lays  a  strong  obligation  to  gratitude  upon 
me,  and  would  prompt  a  desire  to  repay  it.  But  I  must  not  give 
way.    I  have  hitherto  done  all  I  could  to  serve  all  within  my 


540 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1778. 


reach,  and  it.  is  a  satisfaction  to  feel  that  I  have  not  served  an 
ungenerous  nor  ungrateful  public. 

Thus,  my  dear  friend,  I  have  endeavoured  to  give  thee  a  just 
state  of  our  condition.  We  know  tliy  present  desires  for  our 
good,  and  may  they  be  still  continued,  when  access  is  granted. 

I.  &  A.  FoTHERGILL. 

Some  time  after  his  recovery  from  this  illness,  he  visited  Ack- 
worth  School,  to  endeavour  to  perfect  his  plan,  and  to  perpetu- 
ate its  advantages.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  sister,  and 
they  also  went  to  Knaresborough,  and  the  burial  ground  at  Scot- 
ton,  "  to  pay,"  as  he  describes  their  visit,  "  the  grateful  tribute 
of  a  tear,  at  the  side  of  an  honoured  parent's  grave  ;  to  see  that 
his  sepulchre  was  not  laid  waste  to  the  beasts  of  the  field,  but 
secured  from  the  ravages  of  neglect,  was  to  us  a  pleasing  duty. 
Firmly  persuaded  that  we  had  not  the  least  cause  to  mourn  on 
his  account,  and  nothing  left,  more  becoming  us,  than  to  call  to 
mind  his  precepts,  and  his  example,  we  left  the  solitary  spot 
with  hearts  full  of  reverent  thankfulness  that  such  was  our  fath- 
er, and  that  we  tvere  so  far  favoured  as  to  be  able  to  remember 
him  with  gratitude  and  affection." 

The  burial  ground  at  Scotton  is  still  occasionally  used  by 
Friends.  It  is  beautifully  situated  on  rising  ground,  amidst  ex- 
tensive woodlands,  and  surrounded  by  aged  trees  which  Dr. 
Fothergill  had  planted,  and  which  continue  to  show  that  they 
had  been  placed  there  by  the  hand  of  judgment  and  tasle.  In 
a  visit  made  to  this  lonely  and  interesting  place,  in  the  autumn 
of  1842,  the  fences  were  found  in  good  order,  but  cattle  were 
allowed  to  graze  amongst  the  ancient  grave-stones,  now  much 
overgrown  with  moss  ;  the  inscriptions  might  still  be  deciphered, 
but  none  of  them  marked  the  spot  where  the  venerable  remains 
of  that  faithful  servant  of  bis  Lord  reposed. 


] 


OP  SAMUEL  FOTIIERGILL. 


641 


DOCTOR  FOTHERGILL  TO  DR.  P  . 

Near  Middlewich,  7lh  Mo.,  24lh,  1780. 

 It  is  my  fervent  wish  that  all  the  professors  of 

Christianity  may  be  more  anxious  to  hve  Christian  lives,  than 
either  in  advancing  the  consequence  of  the  sect,  or  reflecting  on 
our  fellow-servants,  and  our  brethren,  the  sons  of  the  same 
Father. 

I  called  at  Ackworlh  on  my  way  hither,  and  find  we  have 
made  a  pretty  prosperous  beginning.  Above  SO  girls  and  150 
boys  are  assembled,  in  less  than  ten  months.  The  head  of  the 
house  is  made  for  it,  and  teachers  we  are  making  as  fast  as  we 
can  :  the  children  are  already  moulded  into  excellent  order, 
and  are  clean  and  attentive.  The  beginning  is  prosperous,  the 
event  must  be  left.  To  establish  young  minds  in  truth,  and 
erase  the  prejudices  that  may  have  been  sown,  is  a  great  object 
with  me.  Reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  for  the  boys,  and 
for  the  girls  the  addition  of  necessary  female  employments,  are 
there  taken  care  of.  To  give  them  an  early  inclination  of  act- 
ing uprightly,  doing  to  all  as  they  would  desire  others  to  do  to 
them,  even  in  the  most  trivial  concerns  of  life,  is  a  matter  I  very 
much  wish  to  have  kneaded  inlo  h\\  their  instruction.  If  they 
can  act  so  as  to  avoid  the  reproaches  of  their  own  minds  in  the 
first  place,  and  then  be  able  to  act  such  a  part  as  to  feel  from  it 
interior  approbation,  they  never  will  slide  far  from  the  paths  of 
rectitude.    The  power  of  Heaven  alone  can  do  the  rest. 

One  word  more,  and  I  will  release  thee.  Take  care  of  thy 
health — remit  all  study — write  but  little — use  moderate  exer- 
cise ;  establish  good  health  by  these  means,  then  work  and  wel- 
come. 

I.  F. 

The  firmest  constitution,  the  most  temperate  life,  must  at 
length  yield.  On  the  12th  of  the  l2th  Month,  1780,  Doctor 
Fothergill  experienced  a  severe  return  of  his  former  complaint, 


542 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS 


[1780. 


which  tlic  united  efforts  of  several  of  the  most  eminent  medical 
men  could  not  remove  ;  and  although  he  received  some  slight 
relief  by  surgical  aid,  the  intense  pain  which  accompanied  the 
disease  throughout,  remained  unsubdued,  and  under  its  effects 
his  strength  rapidly  gave  way.  Yet,  in  the  midst  of  this  ex- 
tremity of  suffering,  his  mind  was  preserved  calm  and  serene; 
he  expressed  a  hope  that  he  had  not  lived  in  vain,  but  had  en- 
deavoured in  degree  to  answer  the  end  of  his  creation,  by  sacri- 
ficing interested  considerations,  and  by  his  care  for  the  good  of 
his  fellow-creatures.  His  firm  belief  in  his  Redeemer  did  not 
forsake  him  in  this  trying  hour  ;  and  to  his  deeply-afflicted 
sister  he  often  addressed  words  of  comfort,  saying,  "  All  is 
well  with  me ;  through  the  mercy  of  God,  in  Jesus  Christ,  I 
am  going  to  a  blessed  and  happy  eternity  :  my  troubles  are 
ended,  mourn  not  for  me."  In  this  peacefid  state  of  mind  he 
departed  this  life,  at  his  house,  in  Harpur-slreet,  on  the  26lh  of 
the  12th  Month,  17S0,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

His  remains,  attended  by  a  large  concourse,  who  assembled 
to  manifest  their  love  and  respect  for  his  character,  and  their 
sorrow  for  the  loss  of  such  a  man,  were  conveyed  to  Winch- 
more  hill,  and  interred  in  Friends'  burying  ground  there  on  the 
fifth  of  first  month,  1781,  after  a  large  and  solemn  meeting. 

Much  more  might  have  been  said  respecting  Dr.  Fothergill, 
but  accounts  of  his  life  have  been  already  frequently  printed. 
Soon  after  his  decease,  his  relatives.  Dr.  W.  Hird,  and  Dr.  G. 
Thompson,  each  wrote  sketches  of  his  character,  or  tributes  to 
his  memory ;  his  friend,  Dr.  Lettson,  also  collected  his  works, 
and  published  them,  with  a  full  account  of  his  life  ;  this  passed 
through  at  least  four  editions,  and  is  the  fullest  and  best  account 
of  him  tliat  has  appeared.  Another  collection  of  his  works, 
with  a  life  prefixed,  was  also  published  early  after  his  death,  by 
J.  Elliott,  M.  D.  ;  but  this  abounds  with  errors,  few  of  the  par- 
ticulars respecting  himself  or  his  family  being  correctly  stated  ; 
some  of  these  errors  have  been  copied  into  other  accounts  of  him 
more  recently  published. 


•] 


OF  SAMUEL  FOTHERGILL. 


543 


From  early  youtli,  even  when  but  eight  or  nine  years  old, 
his  love  for  the  productions  of  nature  was  developed ;  and  at 
that  early  period,  he  took  pleasure  in  studying  the  forms  of 
plants,  and  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  their  qualities,  with  refer- 
ence to  their  powers  of  healing  ;  thus  early  was  he  engaged  in 
a  preparation  for  that  profession,  in  which  he  afterwards  justly 
attained  to  so  high  an  eminence.  To  an  extraordinary  sagacity 
and  discernment  in  treating  disease,  he  was  accustomed,  as  he 
has  been  reverently  heard  to  say,  to  seek  the  Divine  blessing 
upon  his  endeavours  to  restore  those  under  his  care.  In  ihe 
early  part  of  this  volume,  it  is  stated,  that  he  and  his  brother 
Samuel  were  at  school  together  at  Briggflats ;  subsequent 
information  renders  it  more  probable  that  they  were  placed  in 
the  family  of  some  friend  there,  but  attended  the  celebrated 
grammar  school  at  Sedberg,  not  quite  two  miles  distant.  The 
earlier  part  of  Samuel's  education  he  received  at  the  grammar 
school  of  Yoresbridge,  near  Askrigg,  not  far  from  the  place  of 
his  nativity. 

To  his  fondly-attached  sister,  the  death  of  Dr.  Fothergill  was 
a  severe  trial.  The  loss  of  a  tender  and  affectionate  friend,  and 
pleasant  companion,  was  irreparable  :  a  near  and  close  attach- 
ment had  subsisted  between  them  from  childhood,  and  with  him 
was  connected  all  her  earthly  enjoyments  ;  he  brought  around 
her  the  best  society,  for  the  good  and  wise  of  every  country 
sought  and  found  in  him  a  kindred  mind.  She  was  now  lonely, 
the  solitary  survivor  of  a  numerous  family,  and  to  her  gentle 
and  affectionate  heart  the  stroke  which  severed  them  was  sharp, 
but  she  bore  it  with  quiet  and  patient  acquiescence  in  the  Divine 
will.  She  was  a  truly  religious  woman,  for  many  years  in  the 
station  of  an  elder,  well  concerned  for  the  good  of  our  religious 
Society,  and  earnest  in  the  support  of  its  discipline  ;  kind,  bene- 
volent, and  much  given  to  hospitality  ;  every  first  and  fifth  day 
she  had  a  dinner  provided,  for  strangers  who  might  attend  West- 
minster Meeting,  to  which  she  belonged,  whether  ministers 
or  others.     She  was  much  respected  and  beloved,  and  a 


544 


MEMOIRS  AND  LETTERS. 


[1802. 


faithful,  discreet  counsellor  to  many,  who  sought  her  advice  in 
tlieir  various  perplexities.  She  survived  her  brother  many 
years,  and  in  old  age  became  very  feeble  in  body,  and  her 
mental  faculties  much  declined  ;  but  it  was  evident  that  her 
mind  was  still  visited  and  sustained  by  the  influence  of  Divine 
love,  which  preserved  her  in  a  tender  and  innocent  state  to  the 
latest  period  of  a  long  life. 

She  died  at  her  house  in  Great  Russel-street,  on  the  eighth 
of  the  seventh  month,  1802,  aged  84  years,  and  was  interred  at 
Winchmore  Hill. 

The  salvation  of  the  righteous  is  of  the  Lord :  he  is  their 
strength  in  the  time  of  trouble. 

The  Lord  shall  help  them,  and  deliver  them,  and  save  them, 
because  they  trust  in  him ;  and  their  inheritance  shall  be  for 
ever. 


THE  END. 


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